Agricultural prices 1996/1997: beef sector (amend. Regul. 805/68/EEC)

In adopting the report by Mr Giacomo SANTINI (UPE, I), the European Parliament called for the special premium per eligible animal to be set at ECU 139.1 per bovine animal, regardless of type (whereas the Commission proposed ECU 108.7 per castrated male bovine animal and ECU 123.9 per uncastrated male bovine animal). This premium should be granted once in the life of each castrated or uncastrated male bovine animal at the age of 10 months and at the same age once in the life of each young female bovine animal intended for fattening, from the age of 10 to 21 months, provided that the fattening takes place in less-favoured and hill areas. Parliament felt that the special premium should not be used to finance the breeding of bovine animals intended for bull rings or fiestas anywhere in the European Union. Moreover, as a result of the "mad cow" crisis, Parliament called for a budget of ECU 30 million per year for three years to be used to promote "duly identified" beef among consumers and countries which traditionally imported European beef. Following the measures adopted to check the BSE epidemic, which affected bovine animals and caused losses to income, Parliament called on the Commission to implement appropriate management measures to support the sector as soon as possible. A single payment should be made during the course of the 1996 financial year to compensate losses to income. �