EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/895

(2004/C 84 E/0988)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0851/04

by Gianni Vattimo (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Animal welfare

Italian Legislative Decree No 533 of 30 December 1992 implemented Directive 91/629/EEC (1) laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves, setting 31 December 2003 as the time limit for the use of rearing plants consisting of individual boxes or pens built before 1 January 1994.

In note No 600.10/24495/PA/4073 of 22 January 1999 the Directorate-General of the Department of Food, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health of the Ministry of Health officially made it clear to Autonomous Regions and Provinces and to the agricultural sectors concerned that no derogations from this rule were admissible on the basis of current legislation.

The European Scientific Veterinary Committee considered this way of rearing livestock as particularly cruel, because of the immobilisation of the animals and the anaemia caused in calves raised for the production of ‘white meat’. In Italy — the third largest European producer after France and the Netherlands — around 470 000 of such animals are raised every year.

In note No 33533/50.03.62 of 14 July 2003 the Veneto Region's Director of the Animal Health and Hygiene Service dealing with livestock rearing and production issued a ‘guideline’ stressing that the envisaged sanctions (fines of between EUR 1 500 and 9 000 and a ban on trading for between one and three months in the event of a repeat infringement) should not be applied to farmers completing the production cycle for animals introduced before 31 December 2003 who have demonstrably started work to adapt structures which do not meet the requirements.

A note from the Lombardy Regional Councillor for Health dated 7 October 2003 referring to the ‘numerous requests’ forwarded by farmers' organisations, and in order to ‘avoid upsetting the stockbreeding industry’, considered the justifications offered valid and issued provisions for the completion of the rearing cycle by 31 August 2004 for farms which by 1 December 2003 had declared to the local health authority their intention to adapt the farm or to discontinue their activity by the end of the current breeding cycle. This derogation applies to an estimated 21 % of farms, or almost 800 holdings.

The Piedmont Region, which is just as important for this type of production, has not granted any derogations from national or European law. It informed farmers of the changes at the appropriate time, but in practice did not manage to avoid distortions of competition, in view of the decisions taken by neighbouring regions.

It is estimated that 100 % of plants in Germany had already been adapted two years ago, whilst the figure for Italy was barely 20 %.

What steps will the Commission take to ensure compliance with Directive 91/629/EEC in the Italian Regions of Lombardy and the Veneto?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The Commission has not previously been informed of any particular problems in the Italian regions of Veneto and Lombardia concerning the implementation of Council Directive 91/629/EEC of 19 November 1991 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. The Commission will therefore request information from the Italian authorities with regard to the alleged incomplete compliance with the Directive in the named regions.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 28.