Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) — Sanitary and phytosanitary measures

10.4.2019

Question for written answer E-001757-19
to the Commission
Rule 130
Giancarlo Scottà (ENF)

CETA came into effect provisionally on 21 September 2017, but the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Joint Management Committee was asked to set out principles and guidelines to determine, recognise and maintain equivalence between the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the EU and Canada (Annex 5-D).

At the first meeting of the Agriculture Committee, held in Brussels in September 2018, Canada criticised legislative developments in the EU regarding pesticides and medicinal products, stressing that they risked seriously affecting EU imports of Canadian agricultural products.

At the eleventh meeting of the Canada-EU Biotech Market Access Dialogue, held on 4 March 2019, the following agendas were addressed: ‘Genetically Modified Organisms and new techniques in agricultural biotechnology: policy updates, product approval and approval system and criteria’ and ‘Traceability of Genetically Modified Organisms and exports to the European Union’.

In light of the above, will the Commission:

• 1.Disclose the status of the negotiations of Annex 5-D of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Joint Management Committee?
• 2.Adopt measures to limit or block imports of products from Canada that do not comply with European sanitary and phytosanitary standards?