WRITTEN QUESTION E-0600/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: Protection of animals during transport

The Commission has published a report on a veterinary inspection conducted in Italy from 5 to 9 July 1999 (DG-SANCO/1067/1999-Mrfinal). The document highlights serious breaches of Council Directive 91/628(1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC(2) and transposed into Italian law by Legislative Decree 388/98) on the protection of animals during transport.

During its previous inspection in Italy in 1997, the Commission had found serious shortcomings at the Italian border inspection post near the Slovenian border. Its new report concludes that no significant improvements have been made in the situation.

In view of the violations brought to light by the Commission's report and of the serious events which took place at the port of Bari in August 1999, when more than 150 sheep and lambs died during transport from Italy to Greece, what action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the Italian authorities fully comply with European directives on the protection of animals during transport?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2000)

Several animal welfare missions from the Commission's food and veterinary office (FVO) have been organised in Italy in the last five years, and have included visits to the border inspection posts (BIPs) of Gorizia and Fernetti-Prosecco.

In a number of areas, the FVO reports corroborated the claims and the official complaints received from animal protection organisations. Following the visits the FVO reports concluded that few long-term improvements have been secured.

In response to the recommendations of the mission report of 1999 concerning Italian BIPs, the Italian authorities have indicated that steps would be taken to ensure the 24 hour availability of veterinary personnel, and that specific instructions would be issued to staff to ensure compliance with animal welfare legislation. The Commission has asked the Italian authorities to provide more details regarding what has been done in practice.

The Italian authorities recently informed the Commission that arrangements are being planned for the mandatory resting in Gorizia of imported horses which have been transported for a period of longer than 24 hours.

Recently a meeting on this subject has been held with the Italian authorities in charge of animal welfare to find practical solutions to improve the level of enforcement of the Directive.

In this framework the Commission has undertaken different initiatives such as the establishment of a working group of the standing veterinary committee on long distance transport. The working group has discussed during different meetings the difficulties arising from the proper enforcement of current Community legislation in the field.

Following the episode at Bari many communications were sent to the Member States involved and in view of the forthcoming hot season, visits were carried out by the FVO to Greece and Italy in February 2000 to discuss ways of ensuring that such events are not repeated in the future. Following these visits a series of recommendations have been presented at the above working group as to the steps required to address the problems.

The involvement of other Member States in these incidents has been examined. Member States of departure have responsibility to ensure that route plans are only endorsed if they comply with the journey times in the Directive and that the transporter returns these for checking after completion of the journey. The active involvement of both the Member State of departure and the Member State of destination is also necessary to ensure that all the requirements are met, in particular that vehicles for such journeys are of an acceptable standard. Authorisation of the transporter in this case was the responsibility of Greece.

If improvements are absent, the Commission will in due course take a decision as to whether to open infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty in respect of Italy's failure to adequately enforce the rules of the animal transport directives.