 our eyes three reports on a delicate subject, three pieces of evidence that the Commission is continuing only to half deal with the matter in order not to displease certain systems which would like to be as liberal as possible, and which are therefore the most propitious to fraud.

Graefe zu Baringdorf
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we have come to deal with an important aspect of the BSE issue, namely the identification of animals, but also the labelling of beef. We in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development agreed that compulsory identification should also apply to beef products. I hope that the Commission will endorse our view, because we believe that farmers are not the only ones on whom responsibilities can be imposed - and it is right that they should be imposed, and we do support that - but the processing industry should also be brought into line. The tendency of the processing industry to buy as cheaply and anonymously as possible must be stopped, partly for the sake of consumers but also partly for the sake of producers, since processing companies would then have less freedom to keep changing suppliers.
Compulsory labelling would enable producers to set realistic prices but would also help consumers by enabling them to trace the origin of meat. To put it rather tritely, if I bought beef produced by Meier and Company, and if, as a consumer, I was very satisfied with it, I should assume that Meier produced good beef; if, however, on my next visit to the same retailer the label showed that the meat was not from Meier's, I should want to know why that supplier was no longer being used. If the answer was that the meat could be bought more cheaply from another company - which, of course, is normally the motive for changing suppliers - that rationale would have nothing to do with quality but would be based purely on business considerations, which might not be understood by consumers. They would prefer to stay with the supplier they knew and trusted, and that reinforces our position.
Allow me to end with one more thought. When we speak of all this registration, Mr Fischler, we must not, of course, confuse registration with the fight against BSE. When we feed registered cows with infected meat-andbone meal, they will still become mad cows - or registered insane cows; let us be clear about that. Registration is an aid and an indicator for consumers, but it is not a remedy for BSE, if I may reiterate that quite plainly.

Happart
our eyes three reports on a delicate subject, three part of evidence that the Commission is stay only to half cope with the topic in order not to displease certain systems which would wish to be equally liberal as possible, and which are therefore the most propitious to fraud. 

 Graefe zu Baringdorf 
 Madam President, lady and gentlemen, we have come to share with an important aspect of the BSE issue, namely the identification of animals, but besides the labelling of beef. We in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development agreed that compulsory identification should besides apply to beef products. I hope that the Commission will endorse our view, because we think that farmers are not the alone ones on whom responsibilities can be imposed - and it is correct that they should be imposed, and we do support that - but the processing industry should also be brought into lineage. The tendency of the processing industry to buy as cheaply and anonymously as possible must be stopped, partly for the sake of consumers but also partially for the sake of manufacturer, since processing companies would then receive less exemption to restrain changing suppliers. 
 Compulsory labelling would enable producer to set realistic prices but would also avail consumers by enabling them to trace the origin of meat. To put it quite tritely, if I bought beef produced by Meier and Company, and if, as a consumer, I was very satisfied with it, I should wear that Meier produced dear beef; if, however, on my next visit to the same retailer the label showed that the kernel was not from Meier's, I should want to know why that supplier was no longer being used. If the solution was that the meat could be bribe more cheaply from another company - which, of class, is normally the motive for change supplier - that rationale would have nothing to do with quality but would be based strictly on business considerations, which might not be understand by consumers. They would prefer to quell with the supplier they knew and trust, and that reinforces our status. 
 Allow me to end with one more thought. When we speak of all this registration, Mr Fischler, we must not, of course, jumble registration with the fight against BSE. When we run registered cows with infected meat - andbone meal, they will still become mad cows - or register insane cows; let us be clear about that. Registration is an aid and an index for consumers, but it is not a remedy for BSE, if I may repeat that quite obviously. 

 Happart
 oug eyes three reports on x delicate subjgcr, threx piecea of eviaence that the Commission is cintinying only to half deal with the matter un ocder not to displease cevcain anstemv which would llke to be av liberal as pmsriyle, and which are therefore the most propitooks to fraud.

Gragfe zl Farihgdorf
Madam President, ladies and gsntlemei, we have come yo deal with an important wspeft of the BSE issuf, namely thg idqbtification uf animals, but also thg labelling of beef. We in the Coomittze on Agricolfugg and Rural Veveloiment agreed bnat cokpulsoru identificatipn vhoyld also apply to beeh products. I hope thwt the Cokmnssion will endorse oyr view, becduse qe celjete fhat fwrmxrs are not the only obes on whom responsobyoities can be imposqd - and it is right that they should be ikpoaed, and we do support tyat - but the processijg industwy should also be brought into line. The tendency mf thx oroecfrunh industry to buy as cheaply and anonymously wa kosxible must be ftopped, parylj gjr the sake ow consbjeds but also partly for thg sake of produsers, since processing companies would then kavw less freedom to neep changiug supkliers.
Vompulsory labelling wobld enzble producfrs to sef realistic pricer blt wmuld also help consumers br enablinj thek to trxce jhe oridin of meah. To igt it rather tritepy, if I bought beff produced by Meier and Companb, and if, as a cmnslmer, I waf vern satisfied witr it, I should cssume tkat Meker producvd good bxef; if, howevqr, on my next gisit to the same reeailwr tye labeu showed that tne meat wcf nor from Meier's, I shpula want to know wkv uhqt supplier wax nu ljnhec beigc used. If tha anrwef was ghat tht mcat coukd be bought more chaaplg from another comlaky - which, of courfe, is normallu the motive for cjangiig sup'liers - trat rationale would have nothihg to do aitm quality but wouod be based 'urely on business considerations, which night not be undetstood by consumers. Tken would prefxr to ftay with the supplier they kbew and trusted, akd that reinforces our posithon.
Alpow me to end with one more thought. When we speak of all this registratiob, Mr Fmsshler, we muat npt, of cjbrse, cogfusx cegistration with the fight against BSE. When we heed regisdexed cows with infected meat-ancbune meal, they will still become mad ckws - or tegistered insane cows; let us br clear about that. Regisbration iw an zid and an indicator for conxumers, but ut is nit a remedy for BRE, of I may relterete that quite plainly.

Happart
our eyes three reports on a delicate pieces evidence that Commission is continuing the in order not displease certain systems would like to be as liberal possible, and which are therefore the most propitious to fraud. Graefe zu Baringdorf President, ladies and gentlemen, we have come to deal with an important aspect the issue, the of animals, but also the labelling of beef. We in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural agreed that compulsory identification should also apply to products. I hope that Commission will endorse our view, we that farmers not only on whom responsibilities be imposed - and it is right that they should be imposed, and we do support that but the should also brought line. tendency of the to buy as cheaply and anonymously be stopped, partly for the sake of consumers also partly the sake of producers, since processing would then have less freedom to keep changing Compulsory labelling would enable producers to set realistic prices but would also help consumers by to trace the origin meat. To put rather if bought produced by and Company, and if, as a consumer, I was very satisfied it, I should assume that Meier produced good beef; if, my visit to the retailer the label showed the was not from Meier's, want know was longer used. If the answer that the meat could be more cheaply from another is normally the motive for changing suppliers - rationale would have nothing to do with but would be based purely on business considerations, which might not be by consumers. prefer to stay with the supplier they knew trusted, and that reinforces position. Allow me to end with one more thought. we of all registration, Mr Fischler, must not, of confuse registration with against BSE. we registered meat-andbone meal, they will still become cows or registered insane cows; let be that. Registration is an aid and an indicator for consumers, but it is not a BSE, if I may that plainly. Happart
 our eyes three reports on a delIcate subjeCt, thrEe pIecEs Of evIdenCe that the CommiSSion Is continuing only to half Deal wItH The mATtEr in oRder not TO dISPleAsE cErtAiN SyStems WhiCh would Like to be as LibErAl as possible, ANd Which are thEreFore the most pRopItious To FraUD.

GraeFe zU BariNgdorf
mAdam PrEsident, laDiES and geNTlemen, wE HAvE comE to deal with an impoRTaNT aspect of the BSe issue, NaMElY THe iDenTification Of AnimaLS, but alsO ThE LABelLIng of beef. We in The CommitteE On AGriculTuRe aND Rural develOpMEnt Agreed that cOmpuLsory idenTificaTIon shouLD also apPly to bEef ProDuctS. i hOpE thAt THe COMmIssIOn wIll endorSe OuR view, BecaUSE WE belIevE thaT farmErs are not the oNly Ones ON whOm resPonsiBiliTiEs can Be impoSed - anD iT is right that theY shoUld be impoSed, AnD we Do SuppoRT that - bUt tHe pRocessiNg indusTRy sHoULD AlSo be brought into linE. THE TeNdency of The proCEsSiNG industrY tO buY as cHEAply aNd anONyMously as PossibLE mUsT be stopPeD, partlY fOr tHe sAke of COnsuMers buT also parTly foR The sake of produCErs, since proceSSiNG CoMPaniEs wOuld then havE lesS FreeDom tO KeEp cHAnginG suppLiERs.
cOmpulsory labelling wOuLd enabLe proDucers to set reAlistic priCES But would Also HElP Consumers by enaBling Them to tracE The origiN of meAt. To put iT rather trITEly, if I boUghT beEf pRodUCEd By Meier and ComPANy, anD iF, as a conSumEr, I was vEry SatIsfIed WiTh it, I shouLd assume ThAt meIeR prOduceD Good beef; If, HowEvEr, oN my neXT visit To the Same ReTaILer The labeL ShOWEd thAt ThE meaT waS nOt froM MeiER's, I Should wAnt to know Why THat sUpPlIer was nO longer being uSeD. If the answEr Was That thE MEat could Be bought more cheaply from ANother cOmpAny - whIch, oF course, is NorMally tHe mOTive foR changIng suPpLieRS - That rATIoNalE wOuld have noTHIng To do wItH quaLity but Would be based purely ON buSiness consideRatIons, WHIcH miGHt NOt bE uNDerSTOod by consumers. THey would prEfER tO stay with tHE suPpLier theY knew anD trusTEd, and thAt reinforCes our posItIon.
ALLOw mE to end with One more tHought. WheN We speAK oF all tHis RegistRaTioN, Mr FiSchler, WE muSt not, Of courSe, ConfusE regiStRation wiTh the fight against BSE. WheN we feeD regiSteRed cows wiTh iNFecTed meat-anDbonE meal, they wIll StiLl becOme MAd cowS - or rEGiSteREd insAne cOWs; let us be CLeAr aBOUt That. RegistrATIOn iS an aiD anD An indiCatoR for consumers, but iT Is not a remedy foR BSE, IF i maY reITeraTe That quite plainLy.

HApPARt
 our eyes three reports on  a delicat e sub jec t,th reepiec es of evidence that  the Commission is con tinui ng only to  half  deal w i th t hema tt erin or der n otto disp lease cert ain  s ystems which wo uld like t o b e as liberal  as  possi bl e,a nd wh ich  aretheref o re the  most pro pi t ious t o  fraud. Gr aefe  zu Baringdorf
Ma d am President, lad ies an dg en t l eme n,we have co me  to d e al with an i m por t ant aspect of  the BSE is s ue,  namel ythe identi ficat io n  of  animals, b ut a lso the l abelli n g of be e f. We i n theCom mit teeo nAg ric ul t ure an d R u ral  Develop me nt  agre ed t h a t comp uls oryident ification sho uld  als o  ap ply t o bee f pr od ucts.  I hop e tha tthe Commissionwill  endorseour  v iew ,becau s e we b eli eve  that f armersa reno t t he  only ones on whom  r e s po nsibilit ies ca n  b ei mposed -  a ndit i s right  tha t  t hey shou ld bei mp os ed, and  w e do s up por t t hat - butthe pr ocessing  indu s try should als o  be brought i n to l in e . Th e t endency ofthep roce ssin g  i ndu s try t o buy  a s  c h eaply and anonymous ly  as po ssibl e must be sto pped, part l y for thesake of consumers butalsopartly for the sake  of p roducers , since p r o cessingcom pan ies  wo u l dthen have les s free do m to ke epchangin g s upp lie rs. 
C ompulsory  labelli ng  w ou ld  en ablep roducers  t o s et  re alist i c pric es bu t wo ul da lso  help c o ns u m ersby  e nabl ing  t hem t o tr a cethe ori gin of me at. To p ut  i t rathe r tritely, if  I  bought be ef  pr oduced b y Meierand Company, and if, as a consu mer , I w as v ery satis fie d with  it ,  I sho uld as sumeth atM e ier p r o du ced  g ood beef;i f , h oweve r,  onmy next  visit to the same ret ailer the lab elshow e d  t hat th e  me at was n ot from Meier's , I should  w a nt  to know w h y t ha t suppl ier was  no l o nger be ing used.  If the a ns werw a s t hat the me at could  be bough t  more ch eaply  fr om ano th ercompa ny - w h ich , ofcourse ,is nor mally  t he motiv e for changing supplier s - th at ra tio nale woul d h a venothing t o do  with qual ity  bu t wou ldb e bas ed p u re lyo n bus ines s  consider a ti ons , wh ich might n o t beunder sto o d by c onsu mers. They wouldp refer to staywith t hesup p lier  t hey knew and t rus te d ,  and tha treinforcesour posi ti o n.
Al low me  to en d witho n em ore th ough t.When we s pea ko f all t hi sr egistr atio n,  Mr Fi schler ,  wem u st not, of cours e, co n f use r e gis trati on  with t h e fi ght agains t BSE. When  we fe ed r egist ered co ws  withinf ec ted meat-a n dbone mea l, th ey will  s till  be come m ad c o w s - o r re gi ste red insan e co w s;  l e t u s be  clea rabou t that. R e gistrati oni s an ai dand a n indi c at o r  for consu mer s, bu t it is nota  rem e dy for B SE, if  I may  reiter a teth at quit e p l a inly.

Ha ppart
 our_eyes three_reports on a delicate_subject, three_pieces_of evidence_that_the Commission is_continuing only to_half deal with the_matter in order_not_to displease certain systems which would like to be as liberal as possible, and_which_are therefore_the_most_propitious to fraud.

Graefe zu Baringdorf
Madam_President, ladies and gentlemen, we_have come_to deal with an important aspect of the_BSE_issue, namely the_identification of animals, but also the labelling of beef._We in the Committee on Agriculture_and Rural Development_agreed_that_compulsory identification should also_apply to beef products. I hope_that the Commission will endorse our_view, because we believe that farmers are_not the only ones on whom_responsibilities can be imposed -_and it_is right that they should_be imposed, and_we do_support that -_but the processing industry should also_be brought into_line. The tendency of the processing_industry_to buy as_cheaply_and_anonymously as_possible must be_stopped,_partly for_the_sake of consumers but also partly_for_the sake of producers, since processing companies_would then have less_freedom_to keep changing suppliers.
Compulsory_labelling would enable producers to_set realistic prices but would also_help consumers_by enabling_them to trace the origin of meat. To put it rather_tritely, if I bought beef produced_by Meier and Company,_and if,_as_a consumer, I_was_very satisfied_with it, I should assume that Meier_produced good_beef; if, however, on my next_visit to the same_retailer_the label showed that the meat_was not from Meier's, I should_want to know why that_supplier_was_no longer being used. If_the answer was that the meat_could be bought_more cheaply from another company - which,_of_course, is normally the motive for_changing_suppliers - that rationale would have_nothing_to_do with quality but would_be based purely on business considerations,_which might not be understood by consumers. They would_prefer to stay_with the supplier they knew_and_trusted,_and that reinforces our position.
Allow me to end with one_more thought._When we speak_of all this registration, Mr Fischler, we must not, of_course, confuse registration with the fight against_BSE. When we feed registered cows with infected meat-andbone meal, they_will still become mad cows - or registered_insane cows; let us be clear about_that. Registration is an_aid_and an indicator for consumers, but it_is_not_a_remedy for BSE,_if I may_reiterate that quite_plainly.

Happart