Sesame seed imports

Question for written answer  E-001127/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou (PPE), Manolis Kefalogiannis (PPE), Maria Spyraki (PPE), Georgios Kyrtsos (PPE), Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (PPE), Stelios Kympouropoulos (PPE)

Recent increases in import controls have been applied to grades of sesame seeds including raw sesame, which is intended for further processing in the EU and not for direct consumption and commerce.

These measures seem to have been implemented without consideration for the type of imported sesame seeds and their intended usage, as the nomenclature code indicated for Sesamum in Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 includes both raw and processed seeds.

Raw sesame seeds have a higher risk of becoming contaminated with salmonella. However, in line with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, they are not meant to be placed on the EU market, as they are not classed as a food grade material in their raw state.

Instead, raw sesame seeds are to be processed in factories, with appropriate hygiene procedures in place at every stage of the production chain.

As a result of the increased controls which do not differentiate between the sesame grades, the flow of incoming raw material for EU sesame processors is disrupted, which threatens their viability.

• 1.Is the Commission considering creating new importation codes or sub-codes for raw sesame intended for processing in the EU? If so, when will they be created? If not, why not?
• 2.How does it plan to support EU industry by addressing this issue?