A4-0302/97

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (COM(97)0161 - C4-0212/97 - 97/0122(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendments 10/rev. and 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal provides for the granting of export refunds; whereas exports of live animals benefiting from Community funds should be carried out in such a way as to respect the welfare of the animals concerned; whereas experience shows that this is not always the case; whereas it should therefore be stipulated that the payment of export refunds shall be subject to compliance with the animal welfare standards as set out in Community legislation concerning animal transport and in particular Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport; whereas it is therefore necessary to amend the aforementioned Article 13 accordingly; whereas it is necessary for practical reasons to provide that the Commission will lay down detailed implementing rules for the application of these rules to imports into third countries;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal provides for the granting of export refunds for live animals and meat; whereas exports of live animals account for less than 10% of the EU's total beef and veal exports; whereas the export refund for live animals has fallen in recent years compared to that for meat exports and does not therefore provide any incentive to increase the export of live animals; whereas exports of live animals benefiting from Community funds should be carried out in such a way as to respect the welfare of the animals concerned; whereas experience shows that this is not always the case; whereas it should therefore be stipulated that the payment of export refunds shall be subject to confirmation, by means of an authorized veterinary certificate, that the animals have been properly transported and to compliance with the animal welfare standards as set out in Community legislation concerning animal transport and in particular Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport; whereas it is therefore necessary to amend the aforementioned Article 13 accordingly; whereas it is necessary for practical reasons to provide that the Commission, after consulting the European Parliament, the parties concerned and the competent authorities, will lay down detailed

>Text following EP vote>

implementing rules for the application of these rules to exports to third countries; whereas, in order to guarantee that appropriate welfare standards are maintained, a monitoring system incorporating regular, random spot checks should be introduced employing the assistance, where appropriate, of official bodies approved by the Commission, the Food and Veterinary Office or the Member States;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the changes to this Regulation must on no account run counter to the objectives of the common organization of the market in beef and veal;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 1b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the provisions governing the welfare of live animals must also apply to European imports from third countries; whereas provision must be made for the withdrawal of preferential advantages if transport conditions fail to comply with Community standards;

(Amendment 9)

Recital 1c (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the EU has given a commitment in the context of the WTO negotiations to reduce subsidized exports in various exports including beef and veal; whereas the use of a small part of export refunds for the implementation of control procedures would represent a step in this direction since it would be a reduction of the amount received by exporters and would simultaneously improve the effectiveness and fairness of the present Regulation;

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE -1 (new)

Article 9(1a) (new) (Regulation (EEC) No 805/68)

>Text following EP vote>

Article -1

In Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68, the following paragraph 1a shall be added:

"1a. Live animals imported into the European Union must also be covered by the provisions on the welfare of animals, particularly during transport. In the event of a breach of these rules, the Union shall have the option of not granting preferential import customs duties.¨

(Amendment 5)

ARTICLE 1(1)

Article 13(9), last subparagraph (Regulation (EEC) No 805/68)

>Original text>

1. in paragraph 9 the following subparagraph shall be added:

'Moreover, the payment of the refund for exports of live animals is subject to compliance with the provisions established in Community legislation concerning animal welfare and, in particular, the protection of animals during transport.¨

>Text following EP vote>

1. in paragraph 9 the following subparagraphs shall be added:

'Moreover, the payment of the refund for exports of live animals is subject to compliance with the provisions established in Community legislation concerning animal welfare and, in particular, the protection of animals during transport. In addition, if transport conditions fail to comply with Community standards, preferential advantages shall be withdrawn in connection with imports of live animals from third countries.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall lay down specific detailed implementing rules to cover cases where the exporter makes a sale f.o.b., since in such cases the animals are placed under the responsibility of the importer.¨

(Amendment 6)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 13(12) (Regulation (EEC) No 805/68)

>Original text>

2. in paragraph 12 the following subparagraph shall be added:

'With regard to the provisions laid down in paragraph 9, last subparagraph, the detailed rules for the application may also include conditions concerning, in particular, imports into third countries.¨

>Text following EP vote>

2. in paragraph 12 the following subparagraphs shall be added:

'With regard to the provisions laid down in paragraph 9, penultimate subparagraph, the detailed rules for the application may also include conditions concerning, in particular, imports into third countries, and shall include a monitoring procedure incorporating regular, random spot checks employing the assistance, where appropriate, of official bodies approved by the Commission, the Food and Veterinary Office or the Member States.

>Text following EP vote>

The monitoring carried out in third countries shall be set up and organized by a neutral, independent body.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall submit a report on the effectiveness of the monitoring procedures after two years.¨

(Amendment 7)

ARTICLE 1a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1a

The detailed implementing rules for the application of this Regulation shall be adopted after consultation of the European Parliament and the parties concerned.

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 1b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Article 1b

An annual budget establishing a maximum amount for regular, random spot checks shall be agreed and financed from export refunds which are paid for the trade in live animals.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (COM(97)0161 - C4-0212/97 - 97/0122(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0161 - 97/0122(CNS) ((OJ C 160, 27.5.1997, p. 7.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0212/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0302/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.