92001E2932

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2932/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Danish feta export fraud

The Court of Auditors' Special Report 7/2001 reveals that the cases of fraud investigated by OLAF included the 1998 export to North Korea of some 3 200 tonnes of Danish feta manufactured from cow's milk. Export refunds of 2,23 million euro were paid despite the fact that the feta was more than 12 months past its sell-by date and the refunds amounted to more than double the selling price.

In addition to the case of fraud, there is also the matter of discrediting the name feta, which in 1998 was a Greek product with protected designation of origin and which Denmark could use only for a transitional period. Can the Commission answer the following:

1. How will it respond to the discrediting of the name feta caused by the export of the Danish product?

2. Will the above case of fraud be taken into account in reconsidering the proposal to secure the status of feta as a product with protected designation of origin?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2001)

The Honourable Member refers to the case concerning an export of some 3 200 tons of Danish feta cheese to North Korea with the payment of some 2,23 million in export refunds. The Court of Auditors referred this case to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for investigation. OLAF has indicated that this investigation has been closed. The Danish authorities and the Commission have been informed of the OLAF conclusions according to which irregularities occurred.

The Commission has in any case not in mind to respond to any possible discredit of the designation feta, which, as your Honourable Member states, was a Protected Designation of Origin in 1998. Actually, and independently of the outcome of the above-mentioned investigation, Denmark had at that time also the right to use the name feta for a transitional period.

With regard to the reconsideration of a proposal to secure the status of feta as a Protected Designation of Origin, the outcome of OLAF's investigation is irrelevant and consequently the Commission won't take it into account.