WRITTEN QUESTION E-0074/02

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 January 2002)

Subject: Technical assistance to China for health and plant health requirements

Under the bilateral agreement of May 2000 on the accession of China to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the EU has agreed to provide China with assistance to enable it to comply with its undertakings in the context of that agreement, including those relating to meeting its public health obligations.

Can the Commission state in detail what cooperation and technical assistance projects it intends to introduce in the field of health and plant health? Is the Commission planning any specific programme with a view to removing the health obstacles standing in the way of imports of bivalve molluscs into the Community?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2002)

The Commission adopted a Framework programme for Community support to China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of 3 million in 1998. This amount has been increased by 600 000 in 2001, and the programmes duration has been extended until 31 December 2003. This programme is currently under implementation and aims to strengthen China's administrative capacity to comply with WTO requirements, including the recognition and implementation of agricultural and sanitary/phytosanitary standards.

In the China National Indicative Programme 2002/2004 which is part of the China Country Strategy Paper, high priority is given to continued support to China's WTO membership, and an amount of 15 million will be available for commitment in 2002. This new programme will help China to further develop its legal and regulatory framework, and to strengthen its administrative capacity to implement and enforce this framework. A Community expert mission is scheduled to visit China in April 2002 to further define the new programme proposal, which is expected to include a significant component related to sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS).