Trade in raw cattle hides

12.7.2001

ORAL QUESTION H-0658/01
for Question Time at the part-session in September 2001
pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure
by Willy De Clercq
to the Commission

For several months, European dealers in raw cattle hides have been forbidden to export their products to markets in Asia, because of the situation with regard to foot and mouth disease. Although exports of meat and other food products have now been resumed – from Belgium as well as elsewhere – Asian markets remain closed to European dealers in raw cattle hides.

 

This ban on exports is bringing heavy pressure to bear on the European market in raw cattle hides because Italy is the only country to which all the other European countries can sell them. Moreover, Italy is taking advantage of the situation by negotiating very low prices. What is more, countries outside Europe and America are steadily taking over as suppliers for the whole of the Asian market, so that firstly European dealers are losing all their Asian customers and secondly the market is being flooded with hides.

 

Will the Commission take action to deal with this situation? If so, how, and can it do so soon, in view of the highly precarious situation facing European dealers in raw cattle hides? If not, why not?

 

 

Tabled: 12.07.2001

nl