Beef and veal: common organisation of the markets COM (amend. regul. 805/68/EEC)

In adopting, by 88 votes to 24 with 7 abstentions, the report by Mr Honor FUNK (PPE, D), Parliament approved the measures to support the market in beef and veal and aid to producers. In its amendments the EP considered it was necessary to take the following measures: - the increase in intervention quantities should be applied gradually; - to limit such intervention, further limits should be placed on the number of heavy animals by way of premium incentives for young animals. The bullock premium should therefore be increased from ECU 123.9 to ECU 163.1; - uncastrated male animals should only receive a one-off premium at the age of 8 months. Both premiums should be retained for bullocks. The EP considered that the keeping of suckler cows also contributes to the disruption of the beef market and called for a 5% reduction from 1997 in all the Member States of the premium rights taken up for suckler cows. It opposed the encouragement of extensive stock-raising on the grounds that the Commission proposal would lead to a sharp rise in rentals. Whilst accepting an increase in the intervention quantity, Parliament considered that such purchases should not exceed 500 000 tonnes (as against 720 000 tonnes proposed by the Commission) in 1996 and 400 000 tonnes (instead of 500 000) for 1997. It suggested that, should the market situation so require, the Council could increase these quantities in tranches of up to 100 000 tonnes each, up to the ceilings initially proposed by the Commission. Finally, to restore consumer confidence, the EP proposed the establishment of a fund to promote the sale of beef products. �