WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Impact of the rules governing livestock farms on the swallow population

In Finland the swallow population is falling as a result of structural change in rural areas and the decline of livestock farming. Swallows, which nest almost exclusively on buildings, have lost a large proportion of their nesting places. In addition to this, the rapid increase in the number of magpies has further reduced the swallow population, since magpies feed on swallow eggs and fledglings.

Moreover, the magazine Suomen Luonto (Finnish Nature) has reported that the situation is getting worse, since the Community rules on cattle barns might deprive swallows of nesting places. According to the magazine, the Community has adopted rules which serve to prevent birds nesting on livestock farms. The restriction can probably be traced back to fears that the birds might spread diseases, in particular salmonella, to livestock farms.

Can the Commission state which rules governing livestock farms might have the impact outlined above? If such rules exist, has consideration been given to the implications of the additional restrictions imposed on livestock farms for swallows and their nesting places? What steps does the Commission plan

to take in order to protect swallows' nesting places? Moreover, has the impact of the decline in the swallow population on Finnish folklore concerning the summer been taken into account? The Finns believe that swallows bring the summer, so that their non-appearance is a serious disappointment to Finns who have been waiting nine months for summer to arrive. Is the Commission aware of the symbolic significance of swallows for the Finnish people and Finnish culture? Is there any way of taking proper account of this significance in Community decision-making?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

The Annex to Commission Directive 89/362/EEC of 26 May 1989 on general conditions of hygiene in milk production holdings(1) lays down the hygiene rules for milking, in the form of a code of hygiene.

During discussions with experts in the Member States when the code was being drawn up, the presence of birds of all species not only swallows was mentioned as a possible source of contamination. Two types of risk were identified at that time: contamination of milk during milking or storage by salmonella from bird excreta, or contamination of cows by the mycobacterium, the agent responsible for avian tuberculosis.

The group of experts concluded that the risk of milk becoming contaminated by salmonella was considerably higher via the cows' own excreta than via that of birds. This is why the animals must be kept clean and their udders must be washed before milking commences.

With regard to avian tuberculosis, the hypothesis that certain livestock could be recontaminated after bovine tuberculosis had effectively been eradicated was accepted. However, only poultry were implicated. This is why the code of hygiene in the Annex to Directive 89/362/EEC states that pigs and poultry must not be housed in a shed or premises where cows are milked.

The code also lays down, as a basic hygiene measure in premises where cows are milked, or where milk is handled or stored, that flies, rodents and other vermin must be controlled.

Regarding swallows as poultry or vermin would be a misinterpretation of the hygiene regulations. Moreover, these regulations apply only to premises where cows are milked or where milk or dairy products are handled or stored, not to premises where animals are merely housed. In other words, these provisions do not apply to cattle barns or to swallows.

(1) OJ L 156, 8.6.1989.