WRITTEN QUESTION P-3215/01

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Plucking of live geese

This October the Danish TV channel DR broadcast a report showing down being plucked from live geese in Poland, for use in duvets and pillows. The procedure is defended on the grounds of the relatively high quality but unfortunately plucking geese alive constitutes maltreatment which is a breach of Article 23 of Council of Europe recommendation T-AP(95)5.

These unethical production methods must be stopped immediately. What EU legislation applies in this area and what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure animal welfare in future in the case of geese (and ducks, which are subject to the same production method)? It is also unreasonable for consumers not to be told of relevant facts about production methods, such as plucking, when they are buying duvets for example. In some cases they might opt to buy duvets filled with fibre rather than down to ensure that they are not supporting unethical forms of production. Does the Commission intend to introduce labelling or certification, so that consumers may make an informed choice and producers be persuaded to lay greater emphasis on animal welfare?

Geese seem to suffer in all kinds of ways, for example for the production of the luxury article foie gras, by the obscene and indefensible practice of force feeding to the extent that they cannot even walk. The Community must therefore tackle this problem without delay.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2002)

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, the plucking of live geese is in contravention of Article 23(3) of the recommendation T-AP(95)20 concerning geese adopted on 22 June 1999 by the Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes. Poland did not ratify the Convention and as a consequence, for the moment is not bound to the same rules on geese farming as the Community and its Member States. It should be mentioned that animal welfare legislation is part of the acquis communautaire and that farming systems in Poland would have to apply Community welfare standards when the country will become a Member of the Union.

In the Community, the transposition of Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes(1) enables the Member States to give effect to the Recommendations adopted under the Convention. Furthermore, according to Article 5 of the Directive the Commission shall submit to the Council any proposals which may be necessary for the uniform application of the Convention and, on the basis of a scientific evaluation, any recommendation made under this Convention.

The Commission is not aware of cases of non-compliance with the recommendation concerning geese within the Union, which would make specific Community legislation necessary to ensure its uniform application.

The Commission has no proposals at present to inform European consumers on the way goose feather products are obtained and is not aware of any such proposals in the Member States. The situation will be kept under review.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.