No further scrutiny of EU Directive COM (2003) 455 on hygiene of foodstuffs is required. Is that agreed? Agreed. No further scrutiny is required on COM (2003) 511 - proposal for a Council regulation adopting autonomous and transitional measures concerning the importation of certain processed agricultural products to Malta. Is that agreed? Agreed. No further scrutiny is required on COM (2003) 525 - Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 527/2003 authorising the offer and delivery for direct human consumption of certain wines imported from Argentina. Is that agreed? Agreed. No further scrutiny is required on COM (2003) 427 - proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation No. 79/65/EEC setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings in the European Economic Community. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Referred for further scrutiny is COM (2003) 479 - proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No. 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs. The aim of the proposal is to improve the traceability and consumer information available in relation to eggs. The committee has placed the question of food safety high on its priorities. This proposal is a logical step in that direction. We can now trace the origin of meat, etc. The proposal would cost producers little. Have members any comments? Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.
No scrutiny is required on COM (2003) 163 - directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating medicinal products for human use. An amended proposal is for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending directive 2001/82/EEC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products. No scrutiny is required on COM (2002) 735 - modified proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council laying down Community procedures for the authorisation, supervision and pharmacovigilance of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. These proposals are related to the regulation of medicine proposals. The proposals have gone through a number of amendments to establish a specialised committee to deal with herbal medicines and develop the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. The proposals also relate to the marketing of such products. The Department of Health and Children indicates that these proposals have a measure of support from industry. The proposals were referred to this committee for scrutiny with regard to aspects concerning veterinary medicines. The Department of Health and Children is taking the main lead on this proposal. The note circulated states that industry supports the measure. Is it agreed that no further scrutiny is required? Agreed.
The following proposal was forwarded to the committee for information purposes: Com (2003) 550 - a proposal relative to the European Parliament and the Council regarding protection of ground water against pollution.
As there is no further business the meeting is adjourned until 19 November when we will meet with a group from the IFA to discuss the farmer retirement scheme, particularly regarding the problem concerning people with disabilities.