BETA


2008/2600(RSP) Resolution on imports of poultry carcasses

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 123-p2

Events

2008/09/12
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/07/16
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/06/19
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2008/06/19
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 17 June 2008, the European Parliament adopted, by 526 votes to 27 with 11 abstentions, a resolution on imports of poultry carcasses. The resolution had been tabled for consideration in plenary by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups. Parliament voiced its disapproval of the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets as regards the rules on the marketing of poultry meat seeks, by redefining poultry meat, to authorise the marketing of poultry meat that has undergone anti-microbial treatment for the purpose of human consumption. Members also refer to the draft Commission regulation implementing Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as regards the use of anti-microbial substances to remove surface contamination from poultry carcasses seeks to authorise the use of four anti-microbial substances in the treatment of poultry carcasses for human consumption in the EU. They call on the Council to reject the Commission proposal.

Parliament recalls that the Commission proposal follows on from the request by the United States for imports into the European Union of US-produced poultry treated with chemicals or anti-microbial substances to be authorised. The US may already export poultry meat to the EU. The Commission acknowledges the lack of scientific data on the environmental and health impact of using the four anti-microbial substances whose authorisation is now being proposed. In addition, according to the findings of an assessment conducted by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of anti-microbial substances in the United States has not reduced the number of infections caused by listeria, salmonella and other bacteria. Parliament stresses that authorisation of the four anti-microbial substances for the treatment of poultry carcasses intended for human consumption would pose a serious threat to Community rules and standards and would constitute a setback for the efforts and adjustments made by poultry professionals with a view to reducing the incidence of bacterial infection in the EU. It would also represent a serious and extremely damaging reversal of Community policy in this area and a blow to the credibility of Community efforts to promote high food safety and hygiene standards at international level.

Parliament voices its concern at the fact that authorisation of imports of such poultry meat could undermine European standards. Members feel that that the authorisation of anti-microbial treatment, either only for imported products or also within the EU, would in both cases mean double standards, as the European sector has been forced to invest heavily in a whole chain approach, while the US is applying only a cheap 'end of pipe' solution. They draw attention to the considerable investments made in this area by European poultry professionals, in accordance with Community legislation, with a view to reducing pathogen contamination by implementing a total food chain approach. The total food chain approach, as used within the European Union, is a more sustainable means of reducing pathogen levels in poultry meat than decontamination using anti-microbial substances at the end of the food production process. The proposal is out of step with both the European public's food safety and hygiene expectations and the demand for production models – both within and outside Europe – which ensure that high hygiene standards are maintained throughout the production and distribution process. It would be likely to undermine European consumer confidence in foodstuffs sold within the EU, which remains fragile following the food safety problems that have arisen within the Union over recent years.

The resolution notes that the Agriculture and Fisheries Council has already discussed the topic twice and the general reaction of the Member States to the Commission plans to authorise the anti-microbial treatment of poultry carcases has been negative. On 2 June 2008 the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health rejected the Commission proposal by 316 votes to nil, with 29 abstentions, thus sending out a clear and forceful message prior to the EU-US Summit in Brdo, Slovenia. However, the Commission is obliged to forward its proposal to the Council following its rejection by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. Parliament is strongly of the opinion that this issue should be dealt with by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and not by other Council configurations. It wants to be consulted and fully informed by the Commission before any further decisions in preparation for the next Transatlantic Economic Council meeting, which takes place in October 2008.

Documents
2008/06/19
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/06/17
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/06/17
   EP - Debate in Parliament
Details

A motion for a resolution winding up this debate was due to be put to the vote on 19 June 2008.

Documents

Votes

B6-0309/2008 - Importation de carcasses de volailles - am. 6 #

2008/06/19 Outcome: +: 336, -: 220, 0: 11
PL DE IT RO CZ GB IE LV SK LT FI HU SI BG SE NL LU PT DK CY EE MT ES AT BE EL FR
Total
47
78
40
27
19
49
11
9
11
8
12
20
6
15
12
21
6
17
13
1
4
5
36
13
15
11
61
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
208
2

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE-DE

2

Austria PPE-DE

Abstain (1)

4

Belgium PPE-DE

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
69

United Kingdom ALDE

4

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Hungary ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Belgium ALDE

2
icon: UEN UEN
37

Lithuania UEN

1

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
25

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

1

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
20

Italy NI

For (1)

1

Czechia NI

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (2)

5

Slovakia NI

2

Bulgaria NI

Against (1)

2

Austria NI

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom IND/DEM

3

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
34

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2
icon: PSE PSE
162

Czechia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

Against (1)

1

Slovakia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

Against (1)

1

Finland PSE

2

Slovenia PSE

Against (1)

1

Sweden PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PSE

2

B6-0309/2008 - Importation de carcasses de volailles - am. 7 #

2008/06/19 Outcome: -: 352, +: 185, 0: 24
CZ SE SK LU IE SI GB DE MT RO EE CY LT LV AT FI BE HU DK BG ES PT IT NL EL PL FR
Total
19
12
11
6
12
6
49
79
5
25
3
1
8
9
11
12
14
19
13
14
37
16
40
21
12
47
60
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
203

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1
2

Austria PPE-DE

3

Belgium PPE-DE

2

Denmark PPE-DE

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
13

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom IND/DEM

3

Denmark IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3
icon: NI NI
20

Czechia NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (2)

2

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

5

Austria NI

Against (1)

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria NI

2

Italy NI

Against (1)

1
2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
25

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Italy GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

1

France GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
38

Lithuania UEN

1

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
34

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
66

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

United Kingdom ALDE

4

Estonia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Austria ALDE

Against (1)

1

Belgium ALDE

2

Hungary ALDE

Against (1)

1
2
3

Netherlands ALDE

Abstain (1)

4
icon: PSE PSE
162

Czechia PSE

2

Sweden PSE

3

Slovakia PSE

2

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Ireland PSE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PSE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PSE

Against (1)

1

Finland PSE

2

B6-0309/2008 - Importation de carcasses de volailles - résolution #

2008/06/19 Outcome: +: 526, -: 27, 0: 11
DE FR PL IT ES RO NL HU GB PT BE BG DK IE CZ EL AT SK FI LV LT LU MT SI SE EE CY
Total
77
63
47
39
36
27
21
19
48
17
15
14
13
12
19
12
13
11
12
9
8
5
5
5
12
4
1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
206

Belgium PPE-DE

2

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Finland PPE-DE

Against (1)

3
2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

Abstain (1)

3
4

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
159

Ireland PSE

1

Czechia PSE

2

Slovakia PSE

2

Finland PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
68

Hungary ALDE

1

United Kingdom ALDE

4

Belgium ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
37

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
34

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
25

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Greece GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
22

Italy NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

5

Bulgaria NI

2

Czechia NI

Against (1)

1

Austria NI

Against (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
13

Poland IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

1

United Kingdom IND/DEM

3

Denmark IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Greece IND/DEM

1

Sweden IND/DEM

For (1)

Against (1)

2

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/1/docs/0/url
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https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20080617&type=CRE
events/2
date
2008-06-19T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0307_EN.html title: T6-0307/2008
summary
events/2
date
2008-06-19T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0307_EN.html title: T6-0307/2008
summary
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-309&language=EN
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-6-2008-0309_EN.html
docs/1/body
EC
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EC
events/2/docs/0/url
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-307
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2008-0307_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2008-06-17T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080617&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-06-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15235&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-307 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0307/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2008-06-17T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-309&language=EN title: B6-0309/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-07-16T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15235&j=1&l=en title: SP(2008)4439 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    • date: 2008-09-12T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15235&j=0&l=en title: SP(2008)4967 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    events
    • date: 2008-06-17T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080617&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament summary: A motion for a resolution winding up this debate was due to be put to the vote on 19 June 2008.
    • date: 2008-06-19T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15235&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2008-06-19T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-307 title: T6-0307/2008 summary: Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 17 June 2008, the European Parliament adopted, by 526 votes to 27 with 11 abstentions, a resolution on imports of poultry carcasses. The resolution had been tabled for consideration in plenary by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups. Parliament voiced its disapproval of the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets as regards the rules on the marketing of poultry meat seeks, by redefining poultry meat, to authorise the marketing of poultry meat that has undergone anti-microbial treatment for the purpose of human consumption. Members also refer to the draft Commission regulation implementing Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as regards the use of anti-microbial substances to remove surface contamination from poultry carcasses seeks to authorise the use of four anti-microbial substances in the treatment of poultry carcasses for human consumption in the EU. They call on the Council to reject the Commission proposal. Parliament recalls that the Commission proposal follows on from the request by the United States for imports into the European Union of US-produced poultry treated with chemicals or anti-microbial substances to be authorised. The US may already export poultry meat to the EU. The Commission acknowledges the lack of scientific data on the environmental and health impact of using the four anti-microbial substances whose authorisation is now being proposed. In addition, according to the findings of an assessment conducted by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of anti-microbial substances in the United States has not reduced the number of infections caused by listeria, salmonella and other bacteria. Parliament stresses that authorisation of the four anti-microbial substances for the treatment of poultry carcasses intended for human consumption would pose a serious threat to Community rules and standards and would constitute a setback for the efforts and adjustments made by poultry professionals with a view to reducing the incidence of bacterial infection in the EU. It would also represent a serious and extremely damaging reversal of Community policy in this area and a blow to the credibility of Community efforts to promote high food safety and hygiene standards at international level. Parliament voices its concern at the fact that authorisation of imports of such poultry meat could undermine European standards. Members feel that that the authorisation of anti-microbial treatment, either only for imported products or also within the EU, would in both cases mean double standards, as the European sector has been forced to invest heavily in a whole chain approach, while the US is applying only a cheap 'end of pipe' solution. They draw attention to the considerable investments made in this area by European poultry professionals, in accordance with Community legislation, with a view to reducing pathogen contamination by implementing a total food chain approach. The total food chain approach, as used within the European Union, is a more sustainable means of reducing pathogen levels in poultry meat than decontamination using anti-microbial substances at the end of the food production process. The proposal is out of step with both the European public's food safety and hygiene expectations and the demand for production models – both within and outside Europe – which ensure that high hygiene standards are maintained throughout the production and distribution process. It would be likely to undermine European consumer confidence in foodstuffs sold within the EU, which remains fragile following the food safety problems that have arisen within the Union over recent years. The resolution notes that the Agriculture and Fisheries Council has already discussed the topic twice and the general reaction of the Member States to the Commission plans to authorise the anti-microbial treatment of poultry carcases has been negative. On 2 June 2008 the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health rejected the Commission proposal by 316 votes to nil, with 29 abstentions, thus sending out a clear and forceful message prior to the EU-US Summit in Brdo, Slovenia. However, the Commission is obliged to forward its proposal to the Council following its rejection by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. Parliament is strongly of the opinion that this issue should be dealt with by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and not by other Council configurations. It wants to be consulted and fully informed by the Commission before any further decisions in preparation for the next Transatlantic Economic Council meeting, which takes place in October 2008.
    • date: 2008-06-19T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 123-p2
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 3.10.03 Marketing and trade of agricultural products and livestock
      • 3.10.05.03 Eggs and poultry
      • 3.10.08 Animal health requirements, veterinary legislation and pharmacy
      New
      3.10.03
      Marketing and trade of agricultural products and livestock
      3.10.05.03
      Eggs and poultry
      3.10.08
      Animal health requirements, veterinary legislation and pharmacy
      procedure/subtype
      Old
      Resolution on statements
      New
      Resolution on statement
      activities
      • date: 2008-06-17T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080617&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
      • date: 2008-06-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15235&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-307 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0307/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          reference
          2008/2600(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on imports of poultry carcasses
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Resolution on statements
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject