12. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 62/47 
2.2. Regulation on the zootechnical and genealogical 
conditions governing intra-Community trade in 
equidae 
2.2.1. The Committee recognizes that this proposal 
follows the broad lines of the 'Proposal for a Council 
Regulation laying down zootechnical and pedigree require­
ments for the marketing of purebred animals' (1). 
2.2.2. Having regard to the essential character of the 
general criteria for the approval of breeding organizations 
and associations, as well as the registration in studbooks 
provided for in Article 4 (b) and (c), to avoid discrimi­
nation the Committee opines that such criteria be 
established within the Regulation and could be modified if 
necessary following the Advisory Committee procedure 
foreseen in Article 11. 
2.2.3. Concerning the identification of equine species, 
dealt with in Article 4 (a) and Article 6, the Committee 
believes that the name of the horse or pony is not the best 
guarantee to prevent unfair practices. More reliable 
(!) OJ No C 56, 6. 3. 1989, p. 25. 
Done at Brussels, 20 December 1989. 
1. Introductory remarks 
1.1. This Regulation effectively endeavours to control 
the trade in rodents, in this context rabbits, hares, rats, 
mice, hamsters, gerbils etc., both from Community and 
third country sources. 
1.2. One of the major reasons for the introduction of 
control measures is the trade in live rabbits. One 
Community Member State sold no less than 3 200 tonnes of 
(!) OJ No C 327, 30.12.1989. p. 57. identification procedures should be provided for under 
Article 6, such as tattooing, blood tests and complete 
description of the exterior of the animal. 
2.3. Regulation on intra-Community trade in equidae 
intended for participation in competitions 
2.3.1. Article 3 
The Committee would prefer the title of this Regulation to 
be restricted to horses and ponies (see the German version). 
The essential provision contained in Article 3 consists of an 
anti-discrimination clause for the participation in competi­
tions of horses and ponies registered or originated in 
another Member State. Therefore the definition of the 
competitions to which this anti-discrimination rule applies 
should be as wide as possible, and Article 2 in the French 
and German versions enlarged so that combined competi­
tions be included for riding and driving and in fact to 
include all kinds of horse show and other events involving 
horses such as bullfighting events. In this respect the 
Committee draws attention to the English version which 
already contains the mention of eventing. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
live rabbits to other Member States in 1987 and a further 
5000 tonnes was imported from third countries. 
1.3. At present there is no Community wide control 
procedure, something that requires attention because of the 
elimination of border controls at the end of 1992. 
2. General comments 
The general intent of this Regulation is approved. In 
support of this it must be pointed out that the major Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) on animal health conditions 
governing the placing of rodents on the market in the Community (*) 
(90/C 62/19) 
On 14 November 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above 
mentioned proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Hancock as Rapporteur-General with 
the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 272nd Plenary Session (meeting of 20 December 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion: 
No C 62/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 3. 90 
portion of the trade in certain rodents, particularly rats and 
mice, involves the supply to laboratories for experimental 
purposes and that these supplies have to meet additional 
stringent safeguards imposed by the laboratories them­
selves. 
3. Specific remarks 
3.1. Article 4 
3.1.1. In some language versions there is an error in 
translation. The reference to 'official veterinarian' should 
read 'official veterinary service'. 
3.1.2. The list of diseases to be officially reported is 
approved as far as it goes but it would be preferable to 
make these notifiable diseases as, in the absence of 
sanctions, this provision will be difficult to enforce. 
3.1.3. In that both rabies and tularemia are rarely found 
in the domestic animals covered in this Regulation, it is 
recommended that two equally serious diseases, salmonel-
laosis and leptospirosis, be added whilst taking account of 
the practical difficulties involved in testing. Both are 
capable of transmission to bovine animals, pigs and 
humans. 
3.1.4. There would appear to be a conflict between the 
provisions of this Regulation and that concerning game and 
rabbit meat [COM(89) 496 final]. Article 4 of the latter 
regulation specifies that no rabbit may be slaughtered that 
is showing clinical signs of disease. This is far more 
stringent than these provisions and effectively would mean 
that animals could be shipped legally if they showed signs 
of diseases other than those listed in this draft Regulation . 
but could not then be slaughtered. 
3.2. Article 5 
3.2.1. Article 5 (2) is too imprecise regarding the period 
during which movement is prohibited. The first sentence 
should be amended to read: 
'The period of prohibition after the last recorded case 
has died or been slaughtered and where the other 
animals of all susceptible species have not been slaughtered and that premises have not been disinfected, 
must be at least:'. 
3.2.2. Whilst the chance of rabies occurring in these 
domestic species is slight, if rabies is to be included in the 
list of diseases covered then, a prohibition period of one 
month is clearly insufficient in that there could be an 
incubation period of several months. 
3.2.3. The prohibition periods for salmonella and 
leptospirosis should be two months in each case. 
3.3. Article 6 
3.3.1. It is recommended that urgent studies be carried 
out to see if any of the species covered could be susceptible 
to contracting haemorrhagic disease. Should this be the 
case a total prohibition of the movement of wild rodents of 
such species from any territory in which this disease has 
already occurred, domestically or in the wild, should be 
imposed and provision made for similar action in the future 
in the case of its spreading further. 
3.3.2. It must be pointed out that it will be extremely 
difficult for any competent authority to certify that any of 
the notifiable diseases are absent from the wild rodent 
population of its administrative territory. The Article, as 
drafted, may therefore have very little practical effect. 
3.4. Article 7 
3.4.1. By inference, draft Regulation COM(88) 383 was 
supposed to provide the procedures referred in this Article, 
once it had been approved by the Council. Now that all 
reference to live animals has been deleted from it there is a 
need to consider what checks and safeguarded measures 
should be applied. When the draft Regulation has been 
amended accordingly the Economic and Social Committee 
would feel it logical for it to be further consulted. 
3.5. Article 10 
Add at the end of the first paragraph 
'or 1 July 1992 whichever is the later'. 
3.6. It is noted that no provision is made for assistance 
to be provided to the Commission by the Standing 
Veterinary Committee. It is recommended that this be 
included in the Regulation. 
12. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 62/49 
Done at Brussels, 20 December 1989. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision introducing a Community financial measure 
for the eradication of brucellosis in sheep and goats (l) 
(90/C 62/20) 
On 14 November 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Hancock as Rapporteur-General with 
the task of preparing its work on the subject. 
At its 272nd Plenary Session (meeting of 20 December 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion unanimously: 
1. Introductory remarks 3. Specific remarks 
1.1. Brucellosis melitensis infection is a serious disease 
causing severe financial losses to farmers and flock owners 
and can infect humans, sometimes with fatal results. 
1.2. The disease has been eliminated in seven Member 
States and now only exists in France, Greece, Italy, Spain 
and Portugal. 
1.3. Whilst animals can be vaccinated this does not 
totally prevent abortion nor the spread of the disease. Thus 
slaughter is the only policy that can provide a lasting 
solution. 
1.4. In that farmers are being forced to diversify their 
activities and the best long wool breeds and heavy milkers 
originate in the areas now subject to brucellosis, failure to 
eradicate would cause both economic disadvantage and a 
barrier to free movement within the Community. 
2. General remarks 
The general objectives of this proposed Regulation are 
consequently approved. 3.1. Article 2 
As the official brucellosis test, whilst the best presently 
available, is not as sensitive as might be desirable, the 
apparent intention of the Commission to have more 
research carried out into how this might be improved is to 
be welcomed. 
3.2. Article 3 
3(2) should specify that holders, testing laboratories, 
veterinary surgeons or other competent persons making a 
diagnosis should be jointly and severally responsible for 
making a compulsory notification; Member States should 
be urged to ensure that penalties for non-compliance are 
appropriate. 
3.2.1. 3(5). There must be concern as to how the ban on 
the therapeutic treatment of a flock, i.e. with anti-biotics, 
can be properly monitored. It is hoped that there will be 
adequate national penalties for knowingly prescribing or 
using such medicaments in this context. 
(i) OJ No C 327, 30. 12. 1989, p. 51. 3.2.2. 3(9). Permanent marking of flocks (the post-
Chernobyl marking of affected animals in the United