91998E0112

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0112/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 January 1998)

Subject: Exemption of Greece from the ban on consumption of certain entrails

Commission Decision 97/534/EC ((OJ L 216, 8.8.1997, p. 95. )), as amended by Decision 97/866/EC ((OJ L 351, 23.12.1997, p. 69. )), prohibits from 1 April 1998 the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

This Decision also bans the consumption in Greece of certain forms of entrails from sheep, goats and cattle despite the fact that Greece is free from transmissible forms of encephalopathies and not a single case of disease has appeared in the country.

If the above ban also applies to Greece, it will affect traditional eating habits which are part of local and national culture. Moreover, young local lambs and kids are used for some of these dishes and bonemeal is not used to feed the ruminants that cause this terrible disease. Will the Commission, therefore, consider exempting Greece from the above Decision under these stringent conditions?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (31 March 1998)

On 25 February 1998 the Commission approved a proposal to amend Commission Decision 97/534/EEC of 30 July 1997. The philosophy of the proposal is to require, pending scientific advice on the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) status of each Member State, in Member States with native cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) removal of risk materiels appearing on a short list.

The Commission invited the Member States in the last standing veterinary committee to submit a complete dossier on their TSE status.

A copy of a press release is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat.

During the Agricultural Council which took place 16-17 March 1998 the Commission proposal has been rejected. At the same time the Council invited the Commission to postpone the Decision 97/534/EC.