Strasbourg, 17/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament adopted at second reading (codecision procedure) the recommendation by Marit Paulsen (ELDR, Sweden) on the Council's common position on renewal of Community rules for the organisation of official controls on animal feed.
The question of inspecting food intended for animals by Community officials continues to cause opposition between Parliament and Council. Although the common position adopted by the latter, on 12 February 2001, on the proposal of directive establishing such inspections, largely backs the efforts made by Parliament to extend its scope, it does not include an amendment presented at first reading which calls for controls to be carried out without prior notification by Commission experts operating in collaboration with the relevant Member State authorities. The Parliament, which considers that this amendment is a key amendment, therefore decided to reintroduce it at second reading. It also adopted an amendment rejected by the Council which includes in the scope of the directive on organisation of official controls on animal feed the deterioration of products due, for example, to defects in the manufacturing process.