WRITTEN QUESTION E-0238/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 February 2001)

Subject: Exotic animal species: closure of Netherlands borders to imports from outside Europe

1. Is the Commission aware of the growing demand for monkeys, large parrots, song birds, iguanas, tortoises, snakes and salt-water fishes from outside Europe by persons intending to keep such animals as household pets?

2. Is the Commission aware that the KLM airline has refused, since the shredding of 440 striped Chinese squirrels in 1999, to transport any more exotic species, and that this is one of the reasons why the Aeroground Services firm based at Schiphol airport went out of business on 1 January 2001.

3. Is the Commission further aware that the Netherlands government department responsible for testing livestock and meat products ceased, as of 2001, to monitor animal welfare and the spread of diseases, but is responsible for the temporary reception of animals and their return to a destination outside the European Union at the importers' expense?

4. Is it true, as claimed by the Netherlands Dibevo animal trading organisation that European rules require Member States each to operate at least one testing centre for their home territory, and does the Netherlands no longer comply with that requirement now that intercontinental access via Schiphol has been discontinued, although the external-boundary inspection centre at the Maastricht-Aachen regional airport is being maintained?

5. Has the Commission now received a request from the Netherlands government for a procedure to be initiated withdrawing recognition of Schiphol as an external-boundary inspection centre for the purpose of importing exotic species?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0238/01, E-0239/01 and E-0240/01 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

The introduction into the Community of endangered species of wild fauna and flora is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97(1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97(2) on the implementation of the Council Regulation.

Under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 Member States have indicated places of introduction into and export from the Community(3).

The Dutch authorities have indicated the following places of introduction and export of live animals covered by this Regulation:

- Schiphol-Gebouw Cargocentre, Handelskade 130;

- Schiphol-Gebouw WTC, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol;

- Maastricht-Aachen Airport Passagiersafhandeling;

- Maastricht-Aachen Airport Vrachtafhandeling.

The Commission has no indication of changes to the above list in the framework of Regulation (EC) No 338/97.

Imports of all live animals and animal products are only permitted at border inspection posts that have been approved by the Commission and listed in the official journal. The procedures and import conditions for such imports are harmonised under various Directives and implementing rules. Import rules for live animal species not covered by a specific Directive fall under the Balai Directive 92/65/EC(4). The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office makes inspections of all border inspection posts in the Community to verify both the actual facilities and the procedures that are operated there.

The Commission is aware of the refusal of KLM and some other European airlines to transport live wild animals and it shares the concerns about the welfare of live animals caused by these restrictions. The Commission supports the transport of live animals by airlines which respect International Air Transport Association (IATA) norms established for the transport of such specimens.

Increasing volumes of trade in wild pet species can partly be explained by more complete trade reporting by Member States over the past few years. For detailed information on these trade volumes the Commission refers the Honourable Member to the Community annual report to CITES established under Article 15 4 a) and b) of the Council Regulation. It should also be pointed out that under the above Community Regulations, trade is strictly monitored at Community level and import restrictions can be put in place when and where necessary. As a result, the trade permitted under this Regulation complies with the principle of sustainable use of wildlife, providing socio-economic incentives for developing countries to enhance conservation of endangered species.

With regard to the survival prospects of exotic pet animals, it should be noted that in many cases the natural life span of a wild specimen may well be much shorter than that of the captive specimen of the same species, as the latter is not exposed to predators and other dangers resulting from life in nature. Under Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 the authorities of the Member States have the responsibility for ensuring that pet traders provide buyers of wild pet animals with information about how to take care of the animals. Finally, Regulation (EC) No 338/97 allows for import restrictions on specimens of species which have a high mortality rate during shipment or for which it has been established that they are unlikely to survive well in captivity (Article 4 6 c)). A certain number of import restrictions taken on this basis are in place and published in a Commission Regulation(5).

As a result of the Single Market, internal border controls have been abolished and stricter trade control measures have been adopted at the Community's external borders. Stricter trade measures by individual Member States are not possible under the Council Regulation. However, Member States have the option of adopting stricter measures with regard to the prohibition of possession of certain animals. It is the Commission's opinion however that the existing Community Regulations on trade in wildlife give the appropriate tools for the conservation and the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2) OJ L 140, 30.5.1997.

(3) Commission Communication OJ C 356, 8.12.1999.

(4) Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (OJ L 268, 14.9.1992).

(5) OJ L 29, 30.1.2001.