WRITTEN QUESTION E-1647/99 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Airport damage to special protection area.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/5 No Community reference standards for PCBs have been laid down at European level. In terms of the internal market, the fact that certain Belgian products intended for export are required to comply with this stringent standard consequently can be considered as tending to distort competition. Does the Commission not consider that in the interests of optimum protection of public health and in a concern for fair conditions of competition on the internal market, it would be appropriate to lay down PCB reference standards at Community level? Will it submit proposals for the necessary legislation? Reply given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (9 November 1999) The contamination of foodstuffs notified by Belgium to the Commission and the other Member States on 27 May 1999 concerned abnormal dioxin levels in recycled fatty matter accidentally fed to certain poultry, pigs and bovines. The level of 200 nanogrammes (ng) of polychlorobiphenyls per gram (PCB/g) of fat in the meat and derived products corresponds to the particular case of contamination from fats supplied by the Verkest/ Fogra firms. In this case, seven identified PCB congeners make it possible to define the products contaminated as a result of this incident. The standard of 200 ng/g fat was adopted at Community level in the decisions on the Belgian crisis in order to certify, on the basis of analyses, Belgian meat intended for exportation or for intra-Community trade. The Scientific Committee on Food held that the values selected were appropriate for managing this crisis. The latest Commission decision, namely Decision 1999/640/EC of 23 September 1999 on protective measures with regard to contamination by dioxins of certain products of porcine and poultry origin intended for human consumption (1), lifts all the restrictions on bovine meat and derived products of Belgian origin. The standard of 200 ng/g fat prescribed for bovine meat is thus no longer pertinent and has not been included in the annexes to the new Decision. The adoption of PCB limits in food and feedingstuffs is closely linked to the adoption of dioxin limits for these products. As regards the adoption of limit values for dioxins in food, the Commission in June 1998 launched an in-depth study of food contamination levels ascertained in several Member States. This study belongs in the framework of the scientific cooperation programme between the Member States (SCOOP). The preliminary results of this study, which should be available very shortly, should cast light on the public health risk and will be one of the factors in the ongoing deliberations with a view to laying down Community limits at a later stage. Finally, in view of the current state of Community law, and quite apart from the values laid down in the Commissionís decisions specifically concerning the Belgian dioxin crisis, a maximum level of dioxins for citrus pulp is specified in Annex I, under B, point 21, of Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on undesirable substances and products in animal nutrition (2). Besides, a proposal laying down dioxin limit values in raw materials and final products intended for animal nutrition is currently being discussed. Any examination of the advisability of prescribing such levels for food should take account of all the available scientific, technical and economic data and their implications for consumer protection. (1) OJ L 253, 28. 9. 1999. (2) OJ L 115, 4. 5. 1999. (2000/C 225 E/006) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1647/99 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 September 1999) Subject: Airport damage to special protection area Is the Commission aware that the proposal to extend the runway area at the City of Derry airport into Lough Foyle, with the European Union providing 75 % of the funding, will damage a special protection C 225 E/6 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 area; is it aware of the economic appraisal on which the scheme is based; and what steps will it take to ensure no scheme receives EU funds if it is shown to be a threat to the environment? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) The Commission is not aware that the proposal to extend a runway area into Lough Foyle will damage a special protection area (SPA), classified by the United Kingdom pursuant to Article 4 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1). The Commission is aware that an economic appraisal has been carried out but, under the principle of subsidiarity, assessment of the various elements contained therein rests with the national authority which in this case is the Department of environment in Northern Ireland. The protection regime applying to the Lough Foyle SPA is defined in Article 6(2), (3) and (4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2). Therefore, any plan or project not directly connected to the management of this site but likely to have a significant effect on it must be subject to an appropriate environmental assessment in view of the siteís conservation objectives. Given that the Honourable Member has alleged that the proposal to develop the runway will damage a special protection area he is invited to submit further details on the nature and extent of the threat to the birds and their habitats so that the Commission will be able to fully investigate the matter with the United Kingdom authorities. In relation to whether the scheme would receive Community funds, it is a requirement of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 on the tasks of the structural funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European investment bank and the other existing financial instruments (3) that measures to be co-financed by the structural funds should be in conformity with Community environment policy. (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979. (2) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992. (3) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (2000/C 225 E/007) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1675/99 by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 September 1999) Subject: Exotic animals Exotic animals are subjected to indescribable suffering during transportation. Treated as ágoodsí, they are transported in appalling conditions. Many animals are dead or seriously injured by the time they reach their destination. What measures is the Commission taking to halt practices of this kind which are cruel to animals? What measures is the Commission taking to monitor the illegal transportation of exotic animals? Will the Commission support a ban on imports of exotic animals into the Member States of the European Union?