91998E1829

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1829/98

by Klaus Rehder (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 1998)

Subject: Cultivation of hemp

Hemp is playing an increasingly important role in the European Union, both as a renewable raw material and in environmental protection: it is being grown on set-aside land and is being used, for example, in attempts in Greece to "decontaminate" contaminated land by cultivating hemp. EU funds are currently used to support the cultivation of renewable raw materials.

1. Does the Commission intend to continue paying premiums for renewable raw materials?

2. Will it continue to pay premiums for set-aside areas?

3. Are there special premiums for the cultivation of hemp and, if so, how much are they?

4. How large are the areas currently under hemp cultivation in the EU and how much is it expected to expand?

5. What trials are being carried out in the EU, with scientific support, for the cultivation of hemp?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 1998)

1. The compensatory payment for land set aside under the arable crops scheme is granted to farmers growing eligible non-food products on that land.

2. As part of its Agenda 2000 reform package(1), the Commission proposed that the principle of compulsory set-aside be retained while allowing for voluntary set-aside. Land withdrawn from production in this way may be used under certain conditions for the production of raw materials not intended for direct human consumption.

3. Council Regulation (EEC) 1308/70 of 29 June 1970 on the common organisation of the market in flax and hemp(2) introduced per-hectare aid for hemp produced in the Community. The Council fixed the rate of aid for hemp production at ECU 716.63 per hectare in 1997/98. It decided to reduce this amount by 7.5 % in 1998/99. Aid for hemp is granted only if it is produced from certified seeds of varieties with an intoxicating substance (tetrahydrocannabinol-THC) content of not more than 0.3 %. This limit will be reduced to 0.2 % with effect from 2001/02.

4. The information communicated by the Member States for 1997/98 gives the following areas:

>TABLE>

Between 35 000 and 40 000 hectares will be under hemp cultivation in 1998/99.

5. A research project is currently being part-financed by the Community under the FAIR programme for the period 1994-1998, with the aim of developing improved cultivars with almost no THC content, culture management systems and harvesting and fibre extraction technologies, identifying optimum fibre quality for specific end uses and developing new innovative products.

(1) COM(97) final 2000.

(2) OJ L 146, 4.7.1970.