 Fischler to say as much directly; nothing else is needed, it is sufficient that the Commission accepts it. DG XXIV needs to be reorganized in such a way as genuinely to protect consumer health but it has also to be given adequate staffing and resources. Finally, we are expecting a real reform of the CAP in which the problems of the environment and consumer health take precedence over questions of quantitative production.

Vandemeulebroucke
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, cattle breeding is having a hard time of it, not only because of mad cow disease but a lot of other factors too. On 20 February it will be exactly two years since a veterinary inspector was cold-bloodedly murdered in Flanders and this killing is thought to be he work of the widely established hormone mafia. The illegal use of growth promoters in the beef industry remains a very serious problem. So the identification and labelling of beef are significant initiatives. And they complement each other. The first move is identification and registration, and labelling is the logical next step. I have a few reservations, however.
The Mayer report includes the Agriculture Committee's Amendment 19, which wants producers to be given extra ear tags and passports so that they can themselves replace any lost ear tags and complete them legibly. To my mind that is extremely dangerous because it may lead to all manner of dubious goings-on. In my country, for example, we have a very good identification system. But there are dishonest cattle producers who often use forged ear tags and this practice is commonplace amongst the hormone mafia. The availability of extra blank or uncompleted ear tags or passports would really be an open invitation to fraud.
My second worry: the plan is for a voluntary labelling scheme. I share Mr Papayannakis's concern that a scheme of this kind will create a dual market which is socially unfair. One will end up with an expensive market of labelled products and a cheap market with unlabelled products, and that is not on. Thus labelling must be universally compulsory, that alone will do.
And my last point is this: some farms have introduced an electronic system of identifying their cattle. This works by the electronic recognition of chips implanted into the animals. It automatically registers any movements of the animals and is useful not only to the farmer but also to abattoir recording systems and even to the central databases. My question to the Commission is this: has Mr Schleicher already studied this system? Is it practicable, what does it cost
Fischler to say as much directly; nothing else is need, it is sufficient that the Commission accept it. DG XXIV needs to be reorganized in such a way equally genuinely to protect consumer health but it has also to be given adequate staffing and resource. Finally, we are expecting a actual reform of the CAP in which the problems of the environment and consumer health take precession over questions of quantitative production. 

 Vandemeulebroucke 
 Madam President, dame and gentleman, cattle breeding is having a hard time of it, not only because of huffy cow disease but a lot of other factors besides. On 20 February it will be exactly two years since a veterinary inspector was cold - bloodedly murdered in Flanders and this killing is think to be he work of the widely established hormone mafia. The illegal use of growth promoter in the beef industry remains a very serious problem. So the identification and labelling of beef are significant initiatives. And they complement each other. The first move is identification and registration, and labelling is the logical next measure. I have a few reservations, however. 
 The Mayer reputation includes the Agriculture Committee's Amendment 19, which wants producers to be given excess ear tag and passports so that they can themselves replace any lost auricle tags and complete them legibly. To my mind that is extremely dangerous because it may lead to all manner of dubious passing - on. In my country, for example, we have a very good designation system. But there cost dishonest cattle producers who often use forged auricle tags and this practice is commonplace amongst the hormone mafia. The availability of extra blank or uncompleted ear tags or passports would really be an receptive invitation to fraud. 
 My second concern: the plan is for a voluntary labelling scheme. I share Mr Papayannakis's concern that a scheme of this kind will make a dual grocery store which is socially unfair. One will end up with an expensive market of pronounce products and a cheap marketplace with unlabelled merchandise, and that is not on. Thus labelling must be universally compulsory, that entirely will do. 
 And my last point is this: some farms have introduce an electronic arrangement of identifying their cattle. This works by the electronic realization of chips implanted into the animals. It automatically registers any movements of the animals and is utilitarian not only to the farmer but also to abattoir recording systems and even to the central databases. My question to the Commission is this: has Mr Schleicher already studied this system? Is it operable, what does it cost
 Fidchler to say as much divectly; nothing else is ieeded, jt is suwficient that the Commission axceptw it. DG XXIV needs to ce reorgajized in suci a way as genuiisly to ixotecf convnmer health but it has alvo to be given aaeeuate staffing and resources. Finallr, we arr fxpecting a rewl rtfowm or the CAP in which the problems of the ennironment and conxumer health take precedenfe oger questions of qkantitative proqyction.

Vandemdulebrouckt
Mcdam Presidgnt, ladies and gentlemen, cattle creednng is havibg a jdrd time of it, njt only becamxe of kad cow disease but a lov of other factors too. On 20 February it will be exactny two years since q ceterhnarf inrpecgor wes dold-bllodxdly murdersd in Flandwrs and this killinb yw thought to ge he rowk of the widely established hormone maxia. The illegal use of groqth promoters in the heef induftry remains a very serious problem. So the identixicatmov aue labdollng of beef are significant initiatives. And trsy cpmplement each other. The gigsy move is idenjificatnkn and registration, wnd labglling is the ljgicsl next step. I have a few rwservations, kowwver.
The Mayer repoxt includes che Agticultire Committee's Amendmenc 19, whidh wants prlducers tk be given extra dar tdgs and kxssports so that ehey can vhemszlves reolacg any ljst ear tahs and complete them leglbly. Jo my kind that ls extremely dangerous because mv may lead to anl kanner oy dubipus goings-on. Yn my country, yor exam'le, we have a vegy good iventificatiog system. But djere are disionest caetle proeucers dfo often use fprged ear tags and rhis practice is cpmmuhplace amongst cke hormone mafia. Yhe avwipauilitr of extra bldnk ur jmcompueted ear tcgr or passports would reanly ge an open invitatook to fraue.
My secogd worry: the llan is for a volujtary lauellinb ssheme. I share Mr Papayannakis's concern hhab a scheme of thiw kind will ereate a dual market which is socially uifair. One will end up wuth an expensive matkeu of labelled prodtcts and d cheap market with ynlabelled producus, and that is not on. Tgus latellijg must be universally compulsory, that alone will do.
And my last point is rhis: some farms habe imtrodlceb au electwonir rystem of identigying their cattle. This works bb the elecdrjnic recognition of chips imllxnted into thg animals. It automatically registets any movements of the animals and is useful not only bo the faemer gut also tu abattoir recordimg syscems abd even to bhe central dagabsscs. My queshion tk the Commission is this: has Mr Wchleixhfr already studixd this systcm? Is ij practisable, what does jt ckdt
Fischler to say as much directly; nothing needed, is sufficient the Commission accepts be in such a as genuinely to consumer health but it has also be given adequate staffing and resources. Finally, we are expecting a real reform the CAP in which the problems of the environment and consumer health take over of production. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, cattle breeding is having a hard time of it, not only of mad cow disease but a lot of factors too. On 20 it will be exactly two since veterinary inspector cold-bloodedly in and this killing thought to be he work of the widely established hormone mafia. The illegal use of growth promoters the beef a very problem. the and labelling of significant initiatives. And they complement each move is identification and registration, and labelling is logical next I have a few reservations, however. Mayer report includes the Agriculture Committee's Amendment 19, wants producers to be given extra ear tags and passports so that they can themselves lost ear tags and them legibly. To mind is dangerous it may to all manner of dubious goings-on. In my country, for example, have a very good identification system. But there are dishonest who use forged ear and this practice is amongst hormone mafia. The availability blank uncompleted passports really an open invitation to My second worry: the plan for a voluntary labelling concern that a scheme of this kind will a dual market which is socially unfair. will end up with an expensive market of labelled products and a market with and that is not on. Thus labelling must universally compulsory, that alone do. And my last point is this: some farms introduced electronic system identifying their cattle. works by the recognition of chips the animals. automatically any animals and is useful not only the but also to abattoir recording and the central databases. My question to the Commission is this: has Mr Schleicher already studied Is it practicable, what it
 Fischler to say as much directLy; nothing eLse is NeeDed, It Is suFficIent that the ComMIssiOn accepts it. DG XXIV needs To be rEoRGaniZEd In sucH a way as GEnUINelY tO pRotEcT CoNsumeR heAlth but It has also tO be GiVen adequate sTAfFing and resOurCes. Finally, we Are ExpectInG a rEAl refOrm Of the cAP in wHIch the Problems oF tHE envirONment anD COnSumeR health take precedENcE Over questions oF quantItATiVE ProDucTion.

VandemEuLebroUCke
MadaM prESIDenT, Ladies and gentLemen, cattle BReeDing is HaVinG A hard tIme of It, NOt oNly because oF mad Cow diseasE but a lOT of otheR Factors Too. On 20 FEbrUarY it wILl Be ExaCtLY twO YeArs SIncE a veteriNaRy InspeCtor WAS COld-bLooDedlY murdEred in FlanderS anD thiS KilLing iS thouGht tO bE he woRk of thE wideLy Established hormOne mAfia. The ilLegAl Use Of GrowtH PromotErs In tHe beef iNdustry REmaInS A VErY serious problem. So tHe IDEnTificatiOn and lABeLlINg of beef ArE siGnifICAnt inItiaTIvEs. And theY complEMeNt Each othEr. the firSt MovE is IdentIFicaTion anD registrAtion, ANd labelling is tHE logical next sTEp. i HAvE A few ResErvations, hoWeveR.
the MAyer REpOrt INcludEs the agRIcULture Committee's AmenDmEnt 19, whiCh wanTs producers to Be given extRA EAr tags anD pasSPoRTs so that they caN themSelves replACe any losT ear tAgs and coMplete theM LEgibly. To My mInd ThaT is EXTrEmely dangerouS BEcauSe It may leAd tO all manNer Of dUbiOus GoIngs-on. In mY country, FoR eXaMpLe, wE have A Very good IdEntIfIcaTion sYStem. BuT therE are DiShONesT cattle PRoDUCers WhO oFten Use FoRged eAr taGS anD this prActice is cOmmONplaCe AmOngst thE hormone mafia. thE availabilItY of Extra bLANk or uncoMpleted ear tags or passporTS would rEalLy be aN opeN invitatiOn tO fraud.
my sECond woRry: the Plan iS fOr a VOLuntaRY LaBelLiNg scheme. I sHARe MR PapaYaNnakIs's concErn that a scheme of thIS kiNd will create a DuaL marKET wHicH Is SOciAlLY unFAIr. One will end up wIth an expenSiVE mArket of labELleD pRoducts And a cheAp marKEt with uNlabelled Products, aNd That IS Not On. Thus labeLling musT be univerSAlly cOMpUlsorY, thAt alonE wIll Do.
And My last POinT is thIs: some FaRms havE intrOdUced an elEctronic system of identifYing thEir caTtlE. This workS by THe eLectronic RecoGnition of cHipS imPlantEd iNTo the AnimALs. it aUTomatIcalLY registerS AnY moVEMeNts of the aniMALS anD is usEfuL Not onlY to tHe farmer but also to ABattoir recordiNg sySTEms And EVen tO tHe central databAseS. MY QUestion tO tHe CommissioN is this: hAs mR SchlEicher AlreadY studieD THiS System? is it PraCticable, wHat DoES it cost
 Fischler to say as much d irectly; n othin g e lse  i s ne eded , it is suffic i entthat the Commission ac cepts  i t . DG XX IV ne eds tob er e org an iz edin su ch away  as gen uinely topro te ct consumerh ea lth but it  ha s also to be  gi ven ad eq uat e  staf fin g and  resou r ces. F inally, w ea re exp e cting a r ea l re form of the CAP i n  w h ich the proble ms ofth e  e n v iro nme nt and con su mer h e alth ta k ep r e ced e nce over ques tions of qu a nti tative  p rod u ction. 

Van de m eul ebroucke
Ma damPresident , ladi e s and g e ntlemen , catt lebre edin g  i shav in g  ah ar d t i meof it, n ot  o nly b ecau s e o f ma d c ow d iseas e but a lot o f o ther fac torstoo.On 2 0Febru ary it  will  b e exactly two y ears  since avet er ina ry  insp e ctor w ascol d-blood edly mu r der ed i n  F landers and this k il l i ng  is thou ght to be  h e  work of  t hewide l y  esta blis h ed  hormone  mafia .  T he  illega luse of  g row thpromo t ersin the  beef in dustr y  remains a ver y  serious prob l em . So theide ntification  and labe llin g  o f b e ef ar e sig ni f ic a nt initiatives. And  t hey co mplem ent each othe r. The fir s t move isiden t if i cation and reg istra tion, andl abelling  is t he logic al next s t e p. I hav e a  fe w r ese r v at ions, however . TheMa yer rep ort  includ esthe  Ag ric ul ture Comm ittee'sAm en dm en t 1 9, wh i ch wants  p rod uc ers  to b e  given  extr a ea rta g s a nd pass p or t s  soth at  the y c an  them selv e s r eplaceany lostear tags  a nd  comple te them legib ly . To my mi nd  th at ise x tremelydangerous because it ma y  lead t o a ll ma nner  of dubio usgoings -on .  In my  count ry, f or  ex a m ple,w e  h ave  a  very good i den tific at ionsystem.  But there are dis h one st cattle pro duc ersw h ooft e nu sefo r ged e ar tags and thi s practice  i s  c ommonplace amo ng st thehormone  mafi a . The a vailabili ty of ext ra  bla n k  or  uncomplet ed ear t ags or pa s sport s  w ouldrea lly be  a n o pen i nvitat i onto fr aud.
M ysecond  worr y:  the pla n is for a voluntary la bellin g sch eme . I share  Mr Pap ayannakis 's c oncern tha t a  sc hemeoft his k indw il l c r eatea du a l marketw hi chi s  s ocially unf a i r . O ne wi lle nd upwith  an expensive mar k et of labelled  pro d u cts  an d  a c he ap market with  un la b e lled pro du cts, and th at is no to n. Th us lab elling  must b e un i versal ly c omp ulsory, t hat  a l one wil ldo . 
And m y la st  point  is th i s: s o m e farms have int roduc e d  an e l ect ronic  s ystem o f  ide ntifying t heir cattle . This  wor ks by  the el ec tronic  re co gnition of chips imp lante d intoth e an ima ls. It  aut o m atica llyre gis ters anym o ve m en ts oftheanima ls  and  is usefu l  not onl y t o  the fa rm erb u t also to a battoir re cor dings y stems ande vent ot he ce ntraldataba ses. My que st ion tothe C ommission  is this: has  M r Sc hleicher  a lrea dy  st ud ied this system ? Is itpractica b l e, wha t d o es i t  cost
 Fischler_to say_as much directly; nothing_else is_needed,_it is_sufficient_that the Commission_accepts it. DG_XXIV needs to be_reorganized in such_a_way as genuinely to protect consumer health but it has also to be given_adequate_staffing and_resources._Finally,_we are expecting a real_reform of the CAP in_which the_problems of the environment and consumer health take_precedence_over questions of_quantitative production.

Vandemeulebroucke
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, cattle breeding is_having a hard time of it,_not only because_of_mad_cow disease but a_lot of other factors too. On_20 February it will be exactly_two years since a veterinary inspector was_cold-bloodedly murdered in Flanders and this_killing is thought to be_he work_of the widely established hormone_mafia. The illegal_use of_growth promoters in_the beef industry remains a very_serious problem. So_the identification and labelling of beef_are_significant initiatives. And_they_complement_each other._The first move_is_identification and_registration,_and labelling is the logical next_step._I have a few reservations, however.
The Mayer_report includes the Agriculture_Committee's_Amendment 19, which wants_producers to be given extra_ear tags and passports so that_they can_themselves replace_any lost ear tags and complete them legibly. To my mind_that is extremely dangerous because it_may lead to all_manner of_dubious_goings-on. In my_country,_for example,_we have a very good identification system._But there_are dishonest cattle producers who often_use forged ear tags_and_this practice is commonplace amongst the_hormone mafia. The availability of extra_blank or uncompleted ear tags_or_passports_would really be an open_invitation to fraud.
My second worry: the_plan is for_a voluntary labelling scheme. I share Mr_Papayannakis's_concern that a scheme of this_kind_will create a dual market which_is_socially_unfair. One will end up_with an expensive market of labelled_products and a cheap market with unlabelled products, and_that is not_on. Thus labelling must be_universally_compulsory,_that alone will do.
And my last point is this: some_farms have_introduced an electronic_system of identifying their cattle. This works by the electronic_recognition of chips implanted into the animals._It automatically registers any movements of the animals and is useful_not only to the farmer but also to_abattoir recording systems and even to the_central databases. My question_to_the Commission is this: has Mr Schleicher_already_studied_this_system? Is it_practicable, what does_it cost