|
|
|
European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 99-11-15
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Spokesman's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi du Porte-Parole 15/11/1999b
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Imports of hormone free beef from the US : state of play
[02] Earthquake in Turkey : Commission is clearing humanitarian aid worth
euro 3 million
[03] The EU and Macau : beyond 2000
[01] Imports of hormone free beef from the US : state of play
Following problems identified in the US "hormone-free-cattle" programme
earlier this year (12% of the consignments of imported US beef tested by
the European Union showed residues of hormones), the EU adopted a decision
(1999/301/EC) on 30.4.99 to suspend all imports of US beef from 15 June 99
onwards, if improvements were not made. The EU also adopted a Decision
(1999/302/EC) on 30.4.1999 which provided for the testing of all
consignments of beef from the US for residues of hormones. The US made
significant changes and strengthened the "Hormone-Free Cattle" program in
June. The EU adopted a Decision (1999/417/EC) which deferred the date of 15
June 1999 to 15 December 1999. The US subsequently suspended the Hormone-
Free Cattle program in July as a result of problems identified, and
launched a new reinforced program, the "Non-Hormone Treated Cattle"-
programme (NHTC) in September 1999. The draft instructions for the
accreditation of feedlots/farms and slaughterhouses/ cutting plants in the
framework of the NHTC were discussed at an expert meeting between EU and US
officials at the end of October in Washington. The Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US certifies meat for export and takes
overall responsibility for the NHTC, while the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) are responsible for the accreditation of participants in the
NHTC. A mission of the EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to look at the
provisions foreseen under the NHTC (accreditation and controls) finished
last Friday. The preliminary report from the mission is scheduled to be
presented to the Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) on 23/24 November
1999. The Standing Veterinary Committee will review the situation regarding
exports of beef from the US under the NHTC at that meeting. Closely linked
to the above is the idea to negotiate compensation to replace the
retaliation measures imposed by the US on the EU over the EU's ban on
hormone-treated beef. Both sides are open to this idea in a spirit of
"trade-creating" instead of "trade-distorting". The current tariff-rate
quota for US exports of hormone free beef is 11500 t per year, but in 1998
only 6-7000 t were exported.
[02] Earthquake in Turkey : Commission is clearing humanitarian aid worth
euro 3 million
The European Commission has launched a procedure to grant a package of
humanitarian aid worth euro 3 million for victims of the earthquake that
hit the town of Düzce in the Bolu province of Turkey on 12 November 1999.
The aid, managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will
enable ECHO NGO partners to provide immediate relief supplies to the area
worst hit by the earthquake. The death toll has reportedly risen to 370
with at least two thousand injured and made homeless. The funding will
focus on the supply of emergency relief items.
[03] The EU and Macau : beyond 2000
The European Commission has adopted a Communication to the Council of
Ministers and the European Parliament on the European Union (EU) and Macau.
On 20 December 1999 Macau will revert to Chinese sovereignty. The EU, as
one of Macau's major international partners, has a key role to play in
contributing to a smooth handover and a stable, prosperous development of
the territory thereafter. The links that already exist between the EU and
Macau make Europe uniquely placed to fulfil this role. The EU and Macau
share similar rights, liberties and values. Macau's legal system is rooted
in European law and bilateral economic relations are firmly based on open
trade and investment. The Communication develops the idea that the key to
Macau's future stability lies in the "one country, two systems" concept, on
which Macau's autonomy will rest. The Commission proposes to strengthen EU-
Macau economic relations, notably by encouraging EU companies to invest in
the territory, and to foster cooperation with Macau in order to contribute
to reinforce the full implementation of the "one country, two systems"
concept. Autonomy and respect for freedom and fundamental rights are
inseparable from this concept, and the EU will take a close interest in
monitoring its full implementation. The EU believes that it would
ultimately be in the best interest of Macau and all of China that the
territory's democratic process be constantly improved. The Communication
concludes that the existing bilateral EU-Macau trade and cooperation
agreement should be continued and expresses suport for the accreditation of
a Trade and Economic Office of Macau to the EU.
MIDDAY EXPRESS
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
|
