§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 3 and 4 June; and if he will make a statement. [31740]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council on 3 and 4 June in Luxembourg. I was accompanied by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office, and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.
The Council considered the proposal by the Commission to lift the EU-wide export ban on United Kingdom produced gelatine, tallow and bull semen. This proposal had failed to attract a qualified majority in the EU Standing Veterinary Committee on 20 May, and the Commission therefore submitted it to the Council for a decision. The proposal was supported in the Council by nine member states but as this did not amount to a qualified majority, the Agriculture Commissioner announced that the Commission would implement the proposal under its own powers. It is likely that this will take effect from 10 June.
I presented to the Agriculture Council the United Kingdom's comprehensive eradication programme for BSE, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I expect that the programme will be examined in detail by EU veterinary experts in the near future.
The Council also discussed a proposal from the Commission to increase the payments to EU beef producers by way of top-ups to the 1995 beef special premium and Buckler cow premium schemes in order to give some urgent income support to those affected by the BSE crisis. The proposal envisages in addition an allocation of Community funds to member states, based on the size of the national beef herd, to provide further assistance to beef producers according to national priorities. The proposal also provides for an increase in the age limit for calves brought forward under the calf processing scheme. Ministers in the Council welcomed the Commission's proposal, though recognised that, pending an opinion from the European Parliament, it could not be formally adopted. It will be discussed further at the Agriculture Council meeting on 24 and 25 June.
The Presidency also undertook further bilateral contacts with member states on the reform of the EU fruit and vegetable regime. It is expected that, in the light of these discussions, a compromise proposal will be put before the late June Agriculture Council meeting.