91998E3509

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3509/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Council

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection

With reference to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee on food, veterinary and plant health control and inspection (COM(98) 32 final) and to the negotiations within the WTO with a view to maintaining equilibrium in international free trade, taking into account inter alia health and safety aspects, can the Council endeavour as actively as possible to support the European Union's control policy and to gain acceptance of it by the international community so that the problems caused by the liberalisation of trade in the food, veterinary and plant health sector can be dealt with?

Reply

(9 March 1999)

During discussions on Agenda 2000 the Council has defined both the model for European agriculture and the attitude to be taken in future WTO negotiations in order to protect that model.

In particular, the Council has taken the view that in the WTO the European Union should seek to achieve the twofold aim of, firstly, maintaining Europe's ability to develop an agriculture in keeping with its characteristics and with very high quality and safety standards and, secondly, placing agricultural trading and market liberalization in a setting which brings international recognition of the constraints imposed on European farmers and agricultural products.

The food, veterinary and plant-health control and inspection measures referred to by the Honourable Member are covered by this general approach.

The Council will of course base itself on the above guidelines at the appropriate time during the preparation of future WTO negotiations.