Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-05-Speech-4-052"
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".
Mr President, I shall try to be very brief and to the point, by omitting any reference to amendments on which we agree and concentrating on the amendments on which there are certain reservations.
Let us start with the question of flexibility for small businesses raised by the last speaker and by numerous other Members of the European Parliament. We totally agree on the need to safeguard the flexibility of small businesses, in accordance with the guidelines laid down in the first and second package of health rules. I referred in my first intervention to special cases in which flexibility is addressed with particular sensitivity. Thus, the Commission accepts Amendments Nos 3, 11, 12 and 138, provided that certain changes are made to their wording.
A new definition of artisanal small businesses, however, as proposed in the amendment, is not considered necessary. A second basic element to which numerous speakers referred concerns the role of the official veterinarian in abattoirs. The Commission can support the introduction of flexibility in risk analysis. I referred to this in my first intervention and this will apply to both large and small businesses. The Commission can therefore accept Amendments Nos 134, 141 and 142. Amendments Nos 85 and 86 are not accepted, because we believe that they will restrict flexibility without any justification. As far as the use of the business's staff to carry out certain control duties is concerned, the Commission expresses its satisfaction because there is agreement with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy. Point 6 of Amendment No 21 on poultry meat and rabbit meat is not in keeping with the approach which has been adopted for fresh meat, as provided for in Annex I to the proposal.
The proposal in Amendment No 87 to separate production and control responsibilities within the business is considered particularly constructive. The Commission cannot accept Amendments Nos 127, 135, 136, 139 and 140 because they are not in keeping with the line taken by the Committee on the Environment or the line taken by the Commission and the authorities responsible for European feedingstuffs legislation. I would therefore ask you to re-analyse the content of these amendments and not to proceed to vote for them.
As regards the information which must be provided when animals are slaughtered, the Commission can also agree to allow flexibility. However, the relevant arrangements must not undermine the system as a whole. Consequently, Amendments Nos 71, 72, 73, 101, 102, 103 and 107 are not accepted.
Now to the question of marine biotoxins in shellfish. The Commission text is based on scientific proof. This applies to the serious risks affecting food safety. The introduction of excessive flexibility at this point is of no benefit to consumers; consequently, the Commission does not accept Amendment No 6, the first part of Amendment No 122 or Amendment No 123. Amendments Nos 4, 25 and 70 repeat the requirements already provided for in our proposal for official controls to be carried out on feedingstuffs and food which the Commission submitted last March.
Finally, as regards the recurring question of comitology, the Commission considers that one major issue is its having the possibility to take measures to implement or adjust annexes, so that they can take account of current scientific developments. I would say that the Commission does, in fact, have a problem with the proposal by the Committee on the Environment proposing that this order be abolished. Consequently, we do not agree with Amendment No 38 but we do agree with Amendment No 130. The Commission's position on all the amendments may be obtained from the secretariat.
Mr President, the recommendations on health are some of the most important action points in the White Paper on food safety. My thanks to Mr Schnellhardt and all the members of this committee who helped with this dossier, which is especially important to producers and consumers."@en1
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