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Written question asked by Jim Hood (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 July 2002. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Friday, 5 July 2002 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question
Statement on what the outcome was of the Agriculture Council held on 27th June; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.
Answer

Mr. Hood: :To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture Council held on 27 June; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [67730] Margaret Beckett: :I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council meeting in Luxembourg on 27 June 2002. The Council received progress reports on Commission proposals concerning the control of zoonoses and a common market organisation for ethyl alcohol, and reached provisional political agreement on a proposed framework regulation laying down general food hygiene rules. It noted there was no qualified majority support for or against a proposal to register "feta" as a protected legislation of origin. Under the relevant procedures, this means the Commission will be able to adopt the measure under its own powers in due course. During a brief discussion of BSE, Commissioner Byrne called on the French Government to comply with the ECJ's ruling on its illegal ban on British beef exports. The French Minister announced their intention to defer implementation of their national rules banning spinal cord from sheep over six months old until January 2003. I subsequently followed up both these points bilaterally with my French counterpart. The Council discussed Presidency papers on the future of the EU's Veterinary Fund, the CAP fruit and vegetables regime and the use of agricultural insurance as a risk management tool. It also received a presentation from Commissioner Fischler on the medium term prospects for the main EU agricultural markets, in advance of his proposals for CAP Reform, which are expected on 10 July.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
67730; 388 c640-1W;388 c642-3W
Session
2001-02
Subjects
Animals Agriculture Contamination Diseases Exports Insurance Disease control Hygiene Food EU action France Fruit Veterinary services BSE Beef Common agricultural policy EC Agriculture Council Zoonoses Vegetables
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk