 we say 'Compulsory - full stop', this means that we must allow the Member States the necessary period of grace. We should then effectively have a legal vacuum in that interim period. That is why we saw fit to propose the introduction of a voluntary system for the transition phase, but that does not mean - and let me reemphasize this clearly too - that during the transition phase anyone can do as he wishes; on the contrary, regulations must still be observed, for instance in relation to the information the label must contain.
Once more there are two separate questions here. Whether or not I produce labels is a matter of choice. The content of the label itself, however, has to be subject to clear rules. Only thus can it work properly.
In connection with various amendments which I rejected, I stated very clearly that, in our view, they would not exactly improve the system. In fact, certain of them could create grey areas; moreover, in some respects our proposals go further than those of Parliament. I do believe that the Commission is entitled to highlight that sort of problem and in the first reading here - assuming now that Article 100a is our legal basis - to reject such proposals.

President
I thank the Commissioner.
The debate is closed.
Voting will take place at noon.

Welcome
President
I am pleased to welcome to the House a delegation from the Republic of Yemen, led by His Excellency, Mr Mohammed Abdo Said, the chairman of the Finance Committee in the Chamber of Deputies.
Your delegation is honouring us with your visit at the second inter-Parliamentary meeting with the appropriate delegation of the European Parliament.
I note with pleasure that relations between the European Union and Yemen are excellent and that our contacts at Parliamentary level have shown our mutual desire for cooperation.
May I wish the Yemeni delegation profitable meetings and an excellent stay in Strasbourg.

Veterinary medicine residues in food
President
The next item is the report (A4-0035/97) by Mr Kenneth Collins, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation EEC No. 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin (COM(96)0584 - C4-0683/96-96/0279/(CNS)).

Collins
we say' Compulsory - full stop', this means that we must leave the Member States the necessary time period of grace. We should then effectively have a legal void in that interim period. That is why we saw fit to propose the presentation of a voluntary system for the transition phase, but that does not entail - and let me reemphasize this clearly besides - that during the transition phase anyone can do as he wish; on the reverse, regulations must still be note, for instance in relation to the data the label must contain. 
 Once more there are two separate question here. Whether or not I produce labels is a topic of choice. The capacity of the label itself, however, has to be capable to clear rules. Only thus can it exercise properly. 
 In connection with various amendments which I rejected, I express very clearly that, in our view, they would not exactly improve the system. In fact, certain of them could create grey areas; moreover, in some respects our proposal go further than those of Parliament. I do think that the Commission is ennoble to foreground that sort of problem and in the first reading here - assuming now that Article 100a is our legal basis - to reject such proposal. 

 President 
 I thank the Commissioner. 
 The debate is closed. 
 Voting will take place at noon. 

 Welcome 
 President 
 I am pleased to welcome to the House a delegation from the Republic of Yemen, moderate by His Excellency, Mr Mohammed Abdo Said, the chairman of the Finance Committee in the Chamber of Deputies. 
 Your delegation is honouring us with your sojourn at the second inter - Parliamentary meeting with the appropriate delegating of the European Parliament. 
 I notice with joy that relations between the European Union and Yemen are excellent and that our contacts at Parliamentary level have shown our mutual desire for cooperation. 
 May I wish the Yemeni delegation profitable meetings and an excellent stay in Strasbourg. 

 Veterinary music residues in food 
 President 
 The adjacent item is the report (A4 - 0035/97) by Mr Kenneth Collins, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, on the marriage proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation EEC No. 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximal residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal beginning (COM(96)0584 - C4 - 0683/96 - 96/0279/(CNS) ). 

 Collins
 we say 'Compulsory - full stup', this means tkqt we kust amlow the Member States the necessary pwriod of grace. We should thdn effectpvely havw a owgal vacuum in thab intsvim pzrmod. That is why we saw fid to propose tve iutroduction of a voluntary system fow the ttajsition phase, fut uhae doss not mean - and let me reemphasizs this blearly too - that during the transition phade ajyone can do as he wishes; on jge sintrary, reguuations must still be kbserved, for instance in relatiun to the infornarioj the label nust bontain.
Once more thera are teo separate qucstiois hwre. Whether or not I 'roduce labels is a iatter of ckoice. The content of rhw labgl itvelf, yowdved, ias to be suuject to clsar rules. Obly thus can it worl [gpperly.
In conhectiog rith various amendments which I rejecteg, I stated very clearly thqt, in our view, they wluld not qxactly improve the system. In fact, certain of thek couma cxcwgw hrey areas; moreover, in some respects our propjaaks go further thcn those of Parloalemj. I do believe that cge Commission is entltled tj higylight thwt sprt of problem and in the furst reading yere - assuming now that Articue 100a is oir legal basis - to rejeet sucg proposals.

Oresident
J thank the Commirsipnar.
The debate is closed.
Votigg will teke pkace at noom.

Welcoie
Presidenh
I am pleased to welcome to tke Hogse a delehation from the Republic of Yemxi, led by His Gxcallvncy, Mr Mjhammcd Abdo Said, thq chairman of jhe Finanee Comoittee in nhe Chambxr of Deputiqs.
Your delegadlon is honoucing us wyth tour visit xg the second imter-Parlicientqry meeting with tme apkrkpriate delegatnub of the Europesn Oarjiwmxnt.
I gmte with pledsurd tfst reuations betcedn tne European Union ang Yejen are excellent snq that oor contaces at Parliamrntary level have dhown ouc mutusl qesire for cooperation.
May I wiah the Yelenl delegation [rofltabje meetingx and an excellent stay in Strasbourg.

Veverinary medicine residyes in food
Presidenj
Tht next item ix the report (A4-0035/97) by Mr Kenneth Collibs, on behalf of tme Committee on the Enbironmant, Pkblic Health and Consumer Protection, on the proposal for a Council Regularion (ER) wmending Cohncik Regllaciou EEC Nj. 2377/90 leymng down a Communpty procedure for the establishmxnt of maxhmbm residue limits of veterinaty medicinal pruducts in foodstuffs of znimal otigin (COM(96)0584 - C4-0683/96-96/0279/(CNS)).

Collins
we say 'Compulsory - full stop', this we allow the States the necessary then have a legal in that interim That is why we saw fit propose the introduction of a voluntary system for the transition phase, but that not mean - and let me reemphasize this clearly too - that during transition anyone do he wishes; on the contrary, regulations must still be observed, for instance in relation to the the label must contain. Once more there are separate questions here. Whether not I produce labels is matter choice. The of label however, has to subject to clear rules. Only thus can it work properly. In connection with various amendments which I I stated that, in view, would exactly improve the fact, certain of them could create in some respects our proposals go further than of Parliament. do believe that the Commission is to highlight that sort of problem and in first reading here - assuming now that Article 100a is our legal basis - to proposals. President I thank Commissioner. The debate closed. will place noon. Welcome I am pleased to welcome to the House a delegation from Republic of Yemen, led by His Excellency, Mr Mohammed Abdo chairman the Finance Committee the Chamber of Deputies. delegation honouring us with your the inter-Parliamentary appropriate of European Parliament. I note pleasure that relations between the Union and Yemen are at Parliamentary level have shown our mutual desire cooperation. May I wish the Yemeni delegation meetings and an excellent stay in Strasbourg. Veterinary medicine residues in food The next the report (A4-0035/97) by Mr Kenneth Collins, on of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, on the proposal a Regulation (EC) Council Regulation EEC 2377/90 laying down Community procedure for of maximum limits veterinary foodstuffs of animal origin (COM(96)0584 - Collins
 we say 'Compulsory - full stop', thIs means thaT we muSt aLloW tHe MeMber states the necesSAry pEriod of grace. We should thEn effEcTIvelY HaVe a leGal vacuUM iN THat InTeRim PeRIoD. That Is wHy we saw Fit to propoSe tHe Introduction OF a Voluntary sYstEm for the tranSitIon phaSe, But THat doEs nOt meaN - and leT Me reemPhasize thIs CLearly TOo - that dURInG the Transition phase anYOnE Can do as he wisheS; on the CoNTrARY, reGulAtions must StIll be OBserved, FOr INSTanCE in relation to The informatIOn tHe labeL mUst COntain.
once mOrE TheRe are two sepAratE questionS here. WHEther or NOt I prodUce labEls Is a MattER oF cHoiCe. tHe cONtEnt OF thE label itSeLf, HowevEr, haS TO BE subJecT to cLear rUles. Only thus cAn iT worK ProPerly.
in conNectIoN with VariouS amenDmEnts which I rejecTed, I Stated verY clEaRly ThAt, in oUR view, tHey WouLd not exActly imPRovE tHE SYsTem. In fact, certain of ThEM CoUld creatE grey aREaS; mOReover, in SoMe rEspeCTS our pRopoSAlS go furthEr than THoSe Of ParliAmEnt. I do BeLieVe tHat thE commIssion Is entitlEd to hIGhlight that sorT Of problem and iN ThE FIrST reaDinG here - assumiNg noW That artiCLe 100A is OUr legAl basIs - TO rEJect such proposals.

PrEsIdent
I Thank The CommissionEr.
The debatE IS Closed.
VoTing WIlL Take place at nooN.

WelcOme
PresideNT
I am pleaSed to Welcome tO the House A DElegatioN frOm tHe REpuBLIc Of Yemen, led by HIS exceLlEncy, Mr MOhaMmed AbdO SaId, tHe cHaiRmAn of the FiNance ComMiTtEe In The chambER of DeputIeS.
YoUr DelEgatiON is honOurinG us wItH yOUr vIsit at tHE sECOnd iNtEr-parlIamEnTary mEetiNG wiTh the apPropriate DelEGatiOn Of The EuroPean ParliamenT.
I Note with plEaSurE that rELAtions beTween the European Union anD yemen arE exCelleNt anD that our cOntActs at parLIamentAry levEl havE sHowN OUr mutUAL dEsiRe For cooperaTIOn.
MAy I wiSh The YEmeni deLegation profitable MEetIngs and an exceLleNt stAY In strASbOUrg.

veTEriNARy medicine residUes in food
PReSIdEnt
The next ITem Is The repoRt (A4-0035/97) by Mr kenneTH CollinS, on behalf Of the CommItTee oN THe ENvironment, public HeAlth and CoNSumer pRoTectiOn, oN the prOpOsaL for a counciL regUlatiOn (EC) amEnDing CoUncil reGulation eEC No. 2377/90 laying down a CommuniTy procEdure For The establIshMEnt Of maximum ResiDue limits oF veTerInary MedICinal ProdUCtS in FOodstUffs OF animal orIGiN (COm(96)0584 - c4-0683/96-96/0279/(cNs)).

Collins
 we say 'Compulsory - full  stop', th is me ans  th at  wemust  allow the Mem b er S tates the necessary pe riodof grac e .We sh ould th e ne f fec ti ve lyha v ea leg alvacuumin that in ter im  period. Tha t  i s why we s awfit to propo sethe in tr odu c tionofa vol untary system  for thetr a nsitio n  phase, b ut  tha t does not mean - an d  let me reemph asizeth i sc l ear lytoo - that  d uring the tra n si t i o n p h ase anyone ca n do as hew ish es; on  t hec ontrar y, re gu l ati ons must st illbe observ ed, fo r  instan c e in re lation  to  th e in f or ma tio nt hel ab elm ust  contain .On ce mo re t h e r e  are  tw o se parat e questions h ere . Wh e the r ornot I  pro du ce la bels i s a m at ter of choice.Thecontent o f t he  la be l its e lf, ho wev er,  has to  be sub j ect  t o c le ar rules. Only thu sc a nit workproper l y. 
I n  connect io n w ithv a rious  ame n dm ents whi ch I r e je ct ed, I s ta ted ve ry  cl ear ly th a t, i n ourview, th ey wo u ld not exactly improve the s y st e m .I n fa ct,  certain of  the m  cou ld c r ea teg rey a reas;  m o re o ver, in some respec ts  our p ropos als go furthe r than tho s e of Parli amen t .I  do believe th at th e Commissi o n is ent itled  to high light tha t sort ofpro ble m a ndi n  t he first read i n g he re  - assu min g now t hat  Ar tic le10 0a is our  legal b as is  -  t o r eject such pro po sal s. 

P resid e nt
I t hanktheCo mm i ssi oner.
T h ed e bate  i sclos ed. 
V oting  wil l  ta ke plac e at noon .
W elco me 
P residen t
I am please dto welcome  t o t he Hou s e  a deleg ation from the Republic of Yeme n,led b y Hi s Excelle ncy , Mr M oha m med Ab do Sai d, th echa i r man o f th e F in ance Commi t t eein th eCham ber ofDeputies.
Your del e gat ion is honour ing  usw i th  yo u rv isi ta t t h e  second inter-P arliamenta ry me eting with the  a ppropri ate del egati o n of th e Europea n Parliam en t.
I n ote  with plea sure tha t relatio n s bet w ee n the  Eu ropean  U nio n and  Yemen are  exce llentan d that  ourco ntacts a t Parliamentary level h ave sh own o urmutual de sir e  fo r coopera tion .
May I wi shthe  Yeme nid elega tion pr ofi t ablemeet i ngs and a n  e xce l l en t stay in S t r a sbo urg.
Ve t erinar y me dicine residues i n  food
Presiden t
Th e nex t i t em i sthe report (A4 -00 35 / 9 7) by Mr  K enneth Coll ins, onbe h alf o f theCommit tee ont h eE nviron ment , P ublic Hea lth  a n d Consu me rP rotect ion,  o n thepropos a l fo r a Council Regula tion( E C) am e ndi ng Co un cil Reg u lati on EEC No.  2377/90 la ying d owna Com munitypr ocedur e f or  the estab l ishment o f max imum re si duelim its of  vet e r inary  med ic ina l product s in fo od s tuf fs o f ani ma l or igin (COM ( 96)0584- C 4 -0683/9 6- 96/ 0 2 79/(CN S )) . 
Collins
 we_say 'Compulsory_- full stop', this_means that_we_must allow_the_Member States the_necessary period of_grace. We should then_effectively have a_legal_vacuum in that interim period. That is why we saw fit to propose the_introduction_of a_voluntary_system_for the transition phase, but_that does not mean -_and let_me reemphasize this clearly too - that during_the_transition phase anyone_can do as he wishes; on the contrary, regulations_must still be observed, for instance_in relation to_the_information_the label must contain.
Once_more there are two separate questions_here. Whether or not I produce_labels is a matter of choice. The_content of the label itself, however,_has to be subject to_clear rules._Only thus can it work_properly.
In connection with_various amendments_which I rejected,_I stated very clearly that, in_our view, they_would not exactly improve the system._In_fact, certain of_them_could_create grey_areas; moreover, in_some_respects our_proposals_go further than those of Parliament._I_do believe that the Commission is entitled_to highlight that sort_of_problem and in the_first reading here - assuming_now that Article 100a is our_legal basis_- to_reject such proposals.

President
I thank the Commissioner.
The debate is closed.
Voting will take_place at noon.

Welcome
President
I am pleased to_welcome to the House_a delegation_from_the Republic of_Yemen,_led by_His Excellency, Mr Mohammed Abdo Said, the_chairman of_the Finance Committee in the Chamber_of Deputies.
Your delegation is_honouring_us with your visit at the_second inter-Parliamentary meeting with the appropriate_delegation of the European Parliament.
I_note_with_pleasure that relations between the_European Union and Yemen are excellent_and that our_contacts at Parliamentary level have shown our_mutual_desire for cooperation.
May I wish the_Yemeni_delegation profitable meetings and an excellent_stay_in_Strasbourg.

Veterinary medicine residues in food
President
The_next item is the report (A4-0035/97)_by Mr Kenneth Collins, on behalf of the Committee_on the Environment,_Public Health and Consumer Protection,_on_the_proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation EEC_No. 2377/90_laying down a_Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of_veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal_origin (COM(96)0584 - C4-0683/96-96/0279/(CNS)).

Collins