WRITTEN QUESTION E-2128/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Health risks linked to consumption of horsemeat

The problem of mad cow disease has led to a considerable increase in the consumption of horsemeat in Italy and other European countries. However, almost all this meat is imported from Eastern Europe, in particular from Romania. In addition to the terrible

conditions in which the horses are transported, there is also the fact that many of these countries have suffered an environmental disaster. The soil, and hence also animal fodder, has been contaminated with heavy metals, such as cadmium, mercury and lead, in addition to radioactive nuclides resulting from the fallout from Chernobyl. According to EU estimates, Italy imports more than 200 000 horses per year, 70 % of them from Eastern Europe.

Can the Commission say whether:

1. it is aware of the risks outlined above;

2. it does not consider the situation presents a grave danger for consumer health;

3. it does not consider, in view of the enlargement of the Union, that the countries involved in this trade must transpose the existing European directives on preventive health in connection with meat consumption and that by analogy with the Member States' ban on the consumption of the liver and kidneys of animals from outside the Community, there should be an equally strict ban, especially for those countries which have launched the accession procedure, on exporting animals which do not have the health characteristics allowing them to be marketed without risks to the consumer;

4. it does not consider it desirable, for this purpose, to contact the health ministers of those countries to find out about and assess the existing legislation on the subject and their opposite numbers in the Member States, with a view to devising joint measures to tackle this problem?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2001)

1. and 2. The Community has laid down conditions governing imports of live animals and animal products from non-member countries. Those conditions seek to protect the Community consumer and are at least equivalent to those laid down for Community products. They may comprise a list of authorised non-member countries and monitoring requirements, in particular covering the detection of residues, and lists of establishments approved for meat imports. The guarantees required call for the presentation of health certificates, models for which are laid down at Community level. Imports are inspected at approved border inspection posts on entry into the Union. In addition, the Food and Veterinary Office conducts regular inspection visits to non-member countries to ensure that the authorities comply with the rules.

This system of guarantees applies to meat, including horsemeat, and live animals imported from countries in eastern Europe. The Commission accordingly considers that EU consumers do have the requisite guarantees, assuming the rules are applied strictly.

3. and 4. Under the enlargement negotiations, the candidate countries are required to adopt national legislation implementing the body of EU law. Naturally this principle covers health and veterinary matters. Regular meetings are held with the candidate countries to assess progress made. The aim is to ensure that, by the date of accession at the latest, not only will the Community regulations have been incorporated into the national law of the candidate countries but they will also actually be applied by the national authorities. To that end the candidate countries have presented a general document outlining their strategy for ensuring food safety.