WRITTEN QUESTION E-3813/00

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Export refunds for cattle

Is the Commission aware of the often inhumane treatment of cattle exported live to third countries for slaughter? Is it further aware that this practice would cease if the incentive of export refunds were limited to the export of meat and not live animals? Will it bring forward proposals to make this change?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2001)

The Commission is aware that breaches of Community legislation in relation to the protection of animals during transport are still taking place within the territory of the Community. The Commission refers the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Written Question E-3765-00by Mrs Maes(1) for more detailed information.

With regard to the question of the refunds granted on the export of live cattle to third countries, since 1 October 1998, Commission Regulation (EC) No 615/98 of 18 March 1998(2) has provided a specific mechanism to ensure that cattle transport for export toward third countries meets the requirements as regards the respect of the conditions on animal welfare during transport as applicable in the Community. This measure has created the legal basis for refusing the aid if during the transport up to the first place of unloading in the country of destination the conditions of Council Directive 91/628/EC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC(3) are not satisfied. The Commission is in the process of verifying the implementation by the Member States of these rules.

On the question of trade in live cattle being influenced by the existence of export refunds, the answer can only be negative. The experiences gained during several crises, and in particular the first major bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis in 1996, show that importing countries immediately redirected their purchases of cattle towards other countries, mostly outside the Community.

The Community has no power to interfere in choices made by third countries to slaughter cattle within their own slaughtering facilities. It is however worthwhile to refer also to the conclusions adopted by the Agriculture Council of 20 and 21 November 2000 approving the Commission's proposal for the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on agriculture and by which the Commission takes the firm view that in international trade, animal welfare should become a matter of interest for all parties involved. The Community appears at this moment to be one of only a small minority of members within the WTO to consider this as an objective in the context of the talks on further trade liberalisation.

Finally, it is important to underline that the level of export aid is calculated with great care and limited to what is strictly necessary. During the last year the refund rates were reduced to two thirds of the level applicable in 1999. Was it not for recent serious developments in the beef sector that cut could even have been greater.

(1) OJ C 174 E, 19.6.2001, p. 137.

(2) OJ L 82, 19.3.1998.

(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.