• 15 December 2016 - Czesław Adam Siekierski – [P-009492-16] - Subject: Impact of CETA on the EU's agri-food sector:
The
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU
raises serious concerns among the European public, in particular among
consumers and farmers. One complaint often made against CETA is that its entry
into force would lead to the gradual disappearance of small-scale family
farming from our continent. It has been pointed out that trade liberalisation
in the area of agricultural production would lead to the collapse of small EU
farms, which will be unable to compete with huge Canadian farms. Another
complaint that is raised is that CETA will open the European market up to
genetically modified food from Canada, which is one of the largest global
producers of GM foods, and will lead to a drop in quality standards.
Given
these concerns, which are often brought to my attention by a variety of
stakeholders in my capacity as Member of the European Parliament, I should like
to put the following questions to the Commission:
On
the basis of the information available to the Commission, will the entry into
force of CETA:
1. Have a negative impact on small-scale farms in the EU? If so, to what
degree?
2. Lead to the opening of the European market to genetically modified
food from Canada?
3. Lower food quality standards on the European market?
Answer
given by Mr Hogan on behalf of the Commission (2 February
2017):
«1. The EU impact
assessments on trade agreements, including on the Comprehensive Economic and
Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (CETA), consider the EU
agricultural sector as a whole and the methodology used cannot specify the
impact on small-scale farming. That being said, the EU does not grant full
access to the EU market for sensitive products such as beef and pork, while
CETA will provide significant market access opportunities to a number of
sectors such as dairy and pig meat which could equally benefit small and large
farms from the EU. CETA will also improve the protection of a range of EU
geographical indications (GIs) on Canada's territory which will enhance export
opportunities to a number of GIs producers who include small-scale farmers.
2. With respect to
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), CETA will have no impact on the existing
EU legislation. As a result, GMOs and derived GM food and feed products now
subject to an approval decision of the Commission, based on a thorough
scientific risk assessment prior to their marketing in the EU, will continue to
be subject to such an approval. In addition, these products will continue to be
subject to EU specific GM traceability and labelling requirements.
3. CETA will have no impact
on EU food quality standards as the agreement will not affect public or private
quality standards.».
