WRITTEN QUESTION E-2527/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (8 October 1996)

Subject: European Veterinary Service

The controversy surrounding the 'mad cow' affair has highlighted the need for a highly efficient European Veterinary Service with responsibility for carrying out specific, as well as general, tasks.

With a view to the above, would the Commission ensure that the service:

1. carries out and enforces checks on animals and animal-based products at the borders between Community Member States and between Member States and third countries;

2. comes under the authority of the Ministry of Health in each Member State (for reasons of uniformity and competence);

3. plans its activities in accordance with movements at borders;

4. has a sufficiently large veterinary staff; and

5. is covered by a specific heading in the budget of the Health Ministry of each Member State, with appropriations being provided on an annual basis by the EU on the grounds that the service's activities serve the interests of both the EU and the Member State concerned.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 November 1996)

Responsibility for day-to-day implementation of Community veterinary legislation, including the performance of health checks on animals and animal products from third countries at the external borders of the Community, and internal animal health, animal welfare and public health controls, rests with the authorities of the Member States. It is therefore up to them to ensure that properly organised and funded veterinary services are in place to carry out the above duties. It would not be appropriate for the Commission to seek to impose detailed requirements on Member States in respect of the organisation of these services.

The Commission, however, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of veterinary legislation in Member States and third countries. In the discharge of this responsibility, it regularly carries out inspections in Member States, in close liaison with the official veterinary sevices, in relation to animal health, animal welfare and public health standards, including regular visits to border inspection posts. The Commission also carries out regular inspection visits to third countries from which imports of animals and animal products are authorised, to ensure that the relevant Community legislative requirements are fully respected.

The Commission is aware that the rapid expansion in responsibilities has placed a considerable burden on its ability to carry out the full range of its duties. In recognition of this fact, and with a view to ensuring adequate personnel and financial resources for the discharge of these responsibilities, a proposal ((OJ C 239, 17.8.1996. )) has recently been submitted to the Council for the establishment of a European agency for veterinary and phytosanitary inspection. The proposal foresees the establishment of an agency with wide-ranging responsibilities for the control and inspection of the manner in which Community veterinary and phytosanitary legislation is implemented in Member States and third countries. It will, in the Commission's view, allow the necessary expansion in the performance of these activities to be achieved, whilst ensuring the most effective use of operational resources.