B3-1597, 1603, 1621, and 1634/93

Resolution on the disastrous effects of swine fever on the pigmeat market and the veterinary measures accordingly taken by the Commission

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to the swine fever epidemic in certain Member States of the Community, in particular Germany, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, and its effects on pig numbers in the Member States of the Community,

B.having regard to the measures already taken by the Commission to halt the spread of the epidemic,

C.having regard to the serious consequences of this epidemic, which will further exacerbate the crisis in the pigmeat sector in the Community regions concerned,

D.having regard to the information provided by the Commission at the last meeting of Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development,

E.whereas the free movement of goods, including the products of the pigmeat sector, remains one of the basic principles of the single market; whereas the Community should require all the Member States to abide strictly by this principle,

1.Calls on the Commission to take stock of the current swine fever epidemic in the Community and to confirm that the measures it has taken will prevent the epidemic from spreading any further;

2.Urges the Commission scrupulously to apply the veterinary measures in force in the Community, avoiding any political pressure;

3.Considers the destruction of untainted meat in carcass processing plants to be unacceptable and calls therefore for new approaches to supporting the market in the crisis-hit regions;

4.Calls for the policy of combating epidemics in the Community to be geared to the recognized special criteria and for the Member States and producers to be encouraged to adhere strictly to and to implement such programmes;

5.Calls for an increase in funds for inspection, more stringent controls at the external borders of the Community and, where epizootic diseases are detected in a Member State, additional intervention measures to support markets where trade restrictions may be in operation;

6.Calls for fair compensation for the losses associated with rigorous action to combat the epidemics;

7.Calls for the introduction of rigorous control measures and for the compulsory marking of animals and carcases to enable their origin to be identified and to ensure that they are in good condition;

8.Calls on the Member States to forward any information that may help to prevent the spread of the epidemic to the Community veterinary authorities as a matter of course and without delay;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council and the governments of the Member States.