WRITTEN QUESTION P-0261/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2000)

Subject: Slaughter of animals at Eid-el-Kabir

Each year tens of thousands of sheep are religiously slaughtered outdoors in France at the Eid-el-Kabir festival. This is in breach of Council Directive 93/119/EC(1) on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing, which specifically prohibits outdoor religious slaughter.

Film footage supplied to the Commission by animal welfare organisation shows not only that the slaughter takes place outdoors but also that the sheep are often roughly and cruelly treated prior to slaughter. They are dragged by one front leg, carried upside down, carted in wheelbarrows and often have their front and back legs tied together. All this is in breach of Article 3 of Council Directive 93/119.

What steps does the Commission propose to take to ensure that EU law is observed at this year's Eid-el-Kabir festival? Does the Commission intend to issue infringement proceedings against France under Article 226 in respect of its failure to enforce Council Directive 93/119 in its territory?

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 February 2000)

The Commission is informed about the treatment of animals during the Eid-el-Kabir festival in France. The inadequate slaughterhouse capacities in certain urban areas of France appear to be one of the reasons for the observations made with regard to treatment of animals during the festival.

A distinction should be made between the problems resulting from the lack of slaughterhouse capacity and those related to the way animals are treated during restraint and killing. The Commission would welcome any effort from French authorities to find a solution for the problem concerning slaughterhouse capacity. On the other hand, however, treatment of animals which causes suffering during restraint and slaughter is not acceptable.

The Member States are responsible for the enforcement of Community legislation concerning the slaughter and killing of animals in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing.

The Commission has contacted the French authorities in order to give them the opportunity to react to the different complaints received by the Commission concerning the treatment of the animals. The French authorities have informed the Commission that, for reasons of public order and public health, it has been found necessary to designate certain sites outside slaughterhouses specifically for the purpose of the celebration of the festival.

Some steps have recently been taken by the French authorities to involve Islamic cultural groups more widely in discussions on this issue in order to improve the situation and to achieve better animal welfare and hygiene conditions. The French authorities have stressed that progress needs to be obtained through consultation and consensus.

The Commission fully understands that the issues involved are sensitive and that in certain areas in France they create serious problems for the French authorities. It must, on the other hand, be observed that failure to respect the fundamental provisions of Directive 93/119/EEC and the relevant Community sanitary rules involves serious breaches of Community law. The Commission is therefore reviewing the matter with a view to possibly opening infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC Treaty.