 consumer, thereby creating a sound basis for the presentation of beef and beef products in a manner that merits the confidence of consumers.
It is now a matter of proceeding quickly and rigorously; that, indeed, has been stressed by several speakers here. Secondly, the Commission also takes the view that a compulsory system of identification and labelling has to be established. However, I have to say that, for reasons of feasibility, an appropriate transition phase will certainly have to be allowed. During that phase, however, those countries that already fulfil all the conditions can go ahead with this type of labelling system.
As far as the legal basis is concerned, the Commission is prepared to accept Article 100a as the basis for both of these drafts as well as for the report on veterinary checks, which would mean that today's debate would amount to a first reading. Nevertheless, I ask you to consider the fact that it will lose us time and that we shall be unable to act with the requisite degree of urgency. That applies especially to the identification and registration of animals, one of the main functions of which is to pave the way for compulsory labelling.
Now, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, for the report on identification and registration. First of all I should like to thank the rapporteurs, Mr Mayer for the Committee on Agriculture and Mr Papayannakis for the Committee on the Environment, as well as Mr McCartin of the Committee on Budgetary Control, for examining our proposals.
On the amendments let me say the following: I can accept Amendments 2, 5 and 6. I regret, however, that the Commission feels unable to accept the other amendments today, and I should like to explain its reasoning to the House. The Commission cannot accept Amendment 3 because animal breeding is not a Community objective, nor can it accept Amendment 4, because for reasons of subsidiarity it is not necessary for technical infrastructures to be identical in all Member States.
Amendments 7, 9, 12 and 24 are unacceptable because it is crucial that our system should cover the whole Community and be coherent, so that the origin of cattle and beef can be effectively identified. Such a system would otherwise be counterproductive and would undermine the joint efforts of the European Parliament and the Commission to restore consumer confidence in the cattle and beef markets.
Amendments 8 and 13 cannot be accepted either, because our proposal already states that, in particular, nationally recognized consumer organizations to which such information is of special importance are to have access to the database. So our
consumer, thereby creating a sound basis for the presentation of gripe and gripe product in a manner that merits the confidence of consumer. 
 It is now a matter of proceeding promptly and rigorously; that, indeed, has been stressed by several speaker here. Secondly, the Commission also aim the view that a compulsory system of recognition and labelling has to be build. However, I have to say that, for reasons of feasibility, an appropriate transition phase will certainly suffer to be allowed. During that phase, however, those countries that already fulfil all the condition can go ahead with this type of labelling system. 
 As far as the legal footing is concerned, the Commission is disposed to accept Article 100a as the basis for both of these drafts as well as for the composition on veterinary checks, which would mean that today's debate would amount to a first interpretation. Nevertheless, I ask you to consider the fact that it will lose us time and that we shall be unable to act with the requisite degree of urgency. That apply especially to the identification and adjustment of animal, one of the main functions of which is to pave the way for compulsory labelling. 
 Now, Madam President, lady and gentlemen, for the report on identification and registration. foremost of all I should like to thank the rapporteurs, Mr Mayer for the Committee on Agriculture and Mr Papayannakis for the Committee on the Environment, as well as Mr McCartin of the Committee on Budgetary Control, for examining our proposals. 
 On the amendments let me say the following: I can accept Amendments 2, 5 and 6. I regret, however, that the Commission palpate ineffective to bear the other amendments today, and I should like to explain its reasoning to the House. The Commission cannot bear Amendment 3 because animal breeding is not a Community objective, nor can it bear Amendment 4, because for reasons of subsidiarity it is not necessary for technical infrastructures to be identical in all Member States. 
 Amendments 7, 9, 12 and 24 are impossible because it is crucial that our system should cover the whole Community and be coherent, so that the origin of cattle and gripe can be effectively identified. Such a system would otherwise be counterproductive and would sabotage the joint efforts of the European Parliament and the Commission to repair consumer confidence in the cattle and beef markets. 
 Amendments 8 and 13 cannot be accepted either, because our marriage proposal already states that, in particular, nationally recognized consumer arrangement to which such information is of special importance are to have access to the database. So our
 cojsumer, thereby creating x sound basis for the 'resentztion of beef and beef products in a mqnner that merits the confiaence of bonsumers.
Ut iw now a matvsr of pvjceeslng qbirkly and rigoroosly; that, ingeed, has been vtfedsed by several speakers here. Seconqly, the Clmmission also takts ehe bpec that a compulsory system of isentifibation and labellong has to be established. Joweger, I have to say hhat, for reqsonf of feasibilkty, an appgmpriate trznsition phase will certainly hxve tp be allowgb. Dughng that phese, horever, those gpuntrias that already fulfik anl rhe conditions can go ahead with this tipe of labalming system.
As far aw the legdl bxwis is cpnderned, thx Commissioh is preparwd to accept Articlt 100a qs the basis ror boeh of these drafts as well as for the repmrt on veterinary checks, wyich would mean that joday's debwte would amount to a first reading. Nevertheless, H ask hou tj xojsider the fact that it will lose us time and fhst we shall be ukable to act with yhf tgquisite degreg of urysndy. That applies esoecialli to tye identisicayion and registration of anumals, one of rhe main functions of which ir to pave the way for compulsory labslling.
Now, Mwdam Presjaent, ladies and eennleman, for the report on identyfication and registfatipn. Firft of all L shomnd like to thank tje rakportegrs, Mr Mayfr for the Committee on Agriculvnre and Mr Pakaydnndkis for the Gommittee on thq Environment, cs well cs Mr OcCartin or the Cmmmittee on Budgetary Cotjrol, for exammning our proposaos.
On thd amendments ley me say nht followint: I can accept Amekdmenjs 2, 5 and 6. I regrec, yowever, that thr Cummysdipn xeels unable to xccdlt thd other amekdmdnts today, and I should nike to explain its ressjning to the Houfe. The Commisxion cannot accept Amenvment 3 becaise animal breeding is not a Commhnity objfctlve, nor can ie acgept Amendment 4, because for reasons of subsidiarity iv is not necessary for rechnical infrastruetmres to be iventicwl in all Member States.
Amendmwnts 7, 9, 12 and 24 are mnacceptable because if is csuciap that our system should cover the whole Community and be coherent, so thar the origin of caftle and tezf ean be qffertmvely identified. Xuch a system would otherwise bx counterpsobuctive and would undermine tne joint effortr of the European Parliajent and the Commission to restore consimer confidence in the csttle ane beer markvjs.
Aoendments 8 and 13 camnot bz accepted eirher, because our orolodal alreafy suatea that, in particular, nationally eecognuzfd consumer orgaiizations to dhich such ynformation is or spsfial kmportance arr to have accexs to the database. Sm jur
consumer, thereby creating a sound basis for of and beef in a manner consumers. is now a of proceeding quickly rigorously; that, indeed, has been stressed several speakers here. Secondly, the Commission also takes the view that a compulsory of identification and labelling has to be established. However, I have to say for of an transition phase will certainly have to be allowed. During that phase, however, those countries that already all the conditions can go ahead with this of labelling system. As as the legal basis is the is prepared accept 100a the basis for of these drafts as well as for the report on veterinary checks, which would mean that today's would amount first reading. I you consider the fact will lose us time and that unable to act with the requisite degree of That applies to the identification and registration of one of the main functions of which is pave the way for compulsory labelling. Now, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, for the report and registration. First of I should like thank rapporteurs, Mayer the Committee Agriculture and Mr Papayannakis for the Committee on the Environment, as as Mr McCartin of the Committee on Budgetary Control, for proposals. the amendments let say the following: I accept 2, 5 and 6. however, the to the amendments today, and I like to explain its reasoning the House. The Commission animal breeding is not a Community objective, nor it accept Amendment 4, because for reasons subsidiarity it is not necessary for technical infrastructures to be identical in Member States. 9, 12 and 24 are unacceptable because it crucial that our system cover the whole Community and be coherent, so that origin cattle and can be effectively Such a system otherwise be counterproductive undermine the efforts the the Commission to restore consumer confidence the and beef markets. Amendments 8 13 accepted either, because our proposal already states that, in particular, nationally recognized consumer organizations to information is of special are have access to the database. So our
 consumer, thereby creating a sOund basis fOr the PreSenTaTion Of beEf and beef produCTs in A manner that merits the coNfideNcE Of coNSuMers.
IT is now a MAtTER of PrOcEedInG QuIckly And RigorouSly; that, indEed, HaS been stresseD By Several speAkeRs here. SecondLy, tHe CommIsSioN Also tAkeS the vIew thaT A compuLsory systEm OF identIFicatioN ANd LabeLling has to be estabLIsHEd. However, I have To say tHaT, FoR REasOns Of feasibilItY, an apPRopriatE TrANSItiON phase will cerTainly have tO Be aLlowed. duRinG That phAse, hoWeVEr, tHose countriEs thAt already Fulfil ALl the coNDitions Can go aHeaD wiTh thIS tYpE of LaBEllINg SysTEm.
AS far as thE lEgAl basIs is CONCErneD, thE ComMissiOn is prepared tO acCept aRtiCle 100a aS the bAsis FoR both Of thesE drafTs As well as for the rEporT on veteriNarY cHecKs, Which WOuld meAn tHat Today's dEbate woULd aMoUNT To A first reading. NeverThELEsS, I ask you To consIDeR tHE fact thaT iT wiLl loSE Us timE and THaT we shall Be unabLE tO aCt with tHe RequisItE deGreE of urGEncy. that apPlies espEcialLY to the identifiCAtion and regisTRaTIOn OF aniMalS, one of the maIn fuNCtioNs of WHiCh iS To pavE the wAy FOr COmpulsory labelling.
NOw, madam PResidEnt, ladies and gEntlemen, foR THE report oN ideNTiFIcation and regiStratIon. First of ALl I shoulD like To thank tHe rapportEURs, Mr MayeR foR thE CoMmiTTEe On Agriculture AND Mr PApAyannakIs fOr the CoMmiTteE on The enVironment, As well as mr mccaRtIn oF the COMmittee oN BUdgEtAry contrOL, for exAminiNg ouR pRoPOsaLs.
On the AMeNDMentS lEt Me saY thE fOllowIng: I CAn aCcept AmEndments 2, 5 aNd 6. I REgreT, hOwEver, thaT the CommissioN fEels unable To AccEpt the OTHer amendMents today, and I should likE To explaIn iTs reaSoniNg to the HoUse. the ComMisSIon canNot accEpt AmEnDmeNT 3 BecauSE AnImaL bReeding is nOT A CoMmuniTy ObjeCtive, noR can it accept AmendmENt 4, bEcause for reasOns Of suBSIdIarITy IT is NoT NecESSary for technicaL infrastruCtUReS to be identICal In All MembEr StateS.
AmenDMents 7, 9, 12 anD 24 are unaccEptable beCaUse iT IS crUcial that oUr system Should covER the wHOlE CommUniTy and bE cOheRent, sO that tHE orIgin oF cattlE aNd beef Can be EfFectivelY identified. Such a system wOuld otHerwiSe bE counterpRodUCtiVe and woulD undErmine the jOinT efForts Of tHE EuroPean pArLiaMEnt anD the cOmmission TO rEstORE cOnsumer confIDENce In the CatTLe and bEef mArkets.
Amendments 8 aND 13 cannot be accepTed eITHer, BecAUse oUr Proposal alreadY stAtES That, in paRtIcular, natioNally recOgNIzed cOnsumeR organIzationS TO wHIch sucH infOrmAtion is of SpeCiAL importAnCe ARe to haVe acCeSs to thE databASe. So OUR
 consumer, thereby creatin g a soundbasis  fo r t he  pre sent ation of beefa nd b eef products in a mann er th at meri t sthe c onfiden c eo f  co ns um ers .I tis no w a  matter  of procee din gquickly andr ig orously; t hat , indeed, ha s b een st re sse d  by s eve ral s peaker s  here.  Secondly ,t he Com m issiona l so  tak es the view thata  c o mpulsory syste m of i de n ti f i cat ion  and label li ng ha s  to bee st a b l ish e d. However, I  have to sa y  th at, fo rrea s ons of  feas ib i lit y, an appro pria te transi tion p h ase wil l  certai nly ha vetobe a l lo we d.Du r ing th atp has e, howev er ,those  cou n t r i es t hat  alr eadyfulfil all th e c ondi t ion s can  go a head  w ith t his ty pe of  l abelling system .
As  far as t hele gal  b asisi s conc ern ed,  the Co mmissio n  is  p r e p ar ed to accept Artic le 1 00 a as the  basis fo rb oth of t he sedraf t s  as w ella sfor thereport on  v eterina ry  check s,  wh ich  woul d  mea n that  today's  deba t e would amount to a first re a di n g .N ever the less, I ask  you to c onsi d er  th e  fact  that  i t  w i ll lose us time and  t hat we  shal l be unable t o act with t h e requis ited eg r ee of urgency.  That  applies e s pecially  to t he ident ification a nd regis tra tio n o f a n i ma ls, one of th e main  f unction s o f which  is  to  pa veth e way for  compuls or yla be lli ng.
N o w, Madam  P res id ent , lad i es and  gent leme n,  f o r t he repo r to n  ide nt if icat ion  a nd re gist r ati on. Fir st of all  Is houl dli ke to t hank the rapp or teurs, MrMa yer  for t h e  Committ ee on Agriculture and M r  Papaya nna kis f or t he Commit tee  on th e E n vironm ent, a s wel lasM r  McCa r t in  of  t he Committ e e  on  Budg et aryControl , for examining ou r  pr oposals.
On t heamen d m en tsl et mesa y  th e following: I ca n accept A me n dm ents 2, 5a nd6.  I regr et, how ever, that th e Commiss ion feels  u nabl e toaccept the  other a mendments today ,  a nd Isho uld li ke  to  expl ain it s  re asoni ng toth e Hous e. Th eCommissi on cannot accept Amendm ent 3becau seanimal br eed i ngis not aComm unity obje cti ve,  norcan it ac cept Am end m ent 4 , be c ause forr ea son s of  subsidiari t y itis no t n e cessar y fo r technical infra s tructures to b e id e n tic ali n al lMember States. 
Am en d m ents 7,9,  12 and 24are unac ce p table  becau se itis cruc i a lt hat ou r sy ste m shouldcov er the who le  C o mmunit y an dbe coh erent, so t h a t the origin ofcattl e and b e efcan b eeffecti v elyidentified . Such a sy stem w ould  othe rwise b ecounte rpr od uctive and would und ermin e the j oi nt e ffo rts of  the E urope an P ar lia ment andt h eC om mi s sio n to  rest or e co nsumer co n fidenceint he catt le  an d beef m a rk e t s.
Amendme nts  8 an d 13 cannotb e ac c ep t ed ei ther,becaus e our p r opo sa l alrea dys t ates that , in part i cul ar , na tionally  r ecog ni zed  c onsumer organiz ations t o whichs u ch inf orm a tion is ofsp ecial import ancear e  to hav e acc ess tot hedat aba se.Soour
 consumer,_thereby creating_a sound basis for_the presentation_of_beef and_beef_products in a_manner that merits_the confidence of consumers.
It_is now a_matter_of proceeding quickly and rigorously; that, indeed, has been stressed by several speakers here._Secondly,_the Commission_also_takes_the view that a compulsory_system of identification and labelling_has to_be established. However, I have to say that,_for_reasons of feasibility,_an appropriate transition phase will certainly have to be_allowed. During that phase, however, those_countries that already_fulfil_all_the conditions can go_ahead with this type of labelling_system.
As far as the legal basis_is concerned, the Commission is prepared to_accept Article 100a as the basis_for both of these drafts_as well_as for the report on_veterinary checks, which_would mean_that today's debate_would amount to a first reading._Nevertheless, I ask_you to consider the fact that_it_will lose us_time_and_that we_shall be unable_to_act with_the_requisite degree of urgency. That applies_especially_to the identification and registration of animals,_one of the main_functions_of which is to_pave the way for compulsory_labelling.
Now, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen,_for the_report on_identification and registration. First of all I should like to thank_the rapporteurs, Mr Mayer for the_Committee on Agriculture and_Mr Papayannakis_for_the Committee on_the_Environment, as_well as Mr McCartin of the Committee_on Budgetary_Control, for examining our proposals.
On the_amendments let me say_the_following: I can accept Amendments 2,_5 and 6. I regret, however,_that the Commission feels unable_to_accept_the other amendments today, and_I should like to explain its_reasoning to the_House. The Commission cannot accept Amendment 3_because_animal breeding is not a Community_objective,_nor can it accept Amendment 4,_because_for_reasons of subsidiarity it is_not necessary for technical infrastructures to_be identical in all Member States.
Amendments 7, 9, 12_and 24 are_unacceptable because it is crucial_that_our_system should cover the whole Community and be coherent, so_that the_origin of cattle_and beef can be effectively identified. Such a system would_otherwise be counterproductive and would undermine the_joint efforts of the European Parliament and the Commission to restore_consumer confidence in the cattle and beef markets.
Amendments_8 and 13 cannot be accepted either,_because our proposal already_states_that, in particular, nationally recognized consumer organizations_to_which_such_information is of_special importance are_to have access_to the_database. So our