EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/19

(2004/C 78 E/0019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0559/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 February 2003)

Subject: Horse identification documents

1. Given the Commission's enthusiasm under Decision 2000/68 (1) to provide passports for all equidae in order to prevent drugged meat from entering the food chain, what complementary measures is the Commission proposing to take to avoid similar contamination in imports from third countries?

2. What proportion of horsemeat consumption comes from third countries, and what tonnage was imported last year?

3. When does the Commission propose to bring forward similar measures for more frequently eaten species such as pigs, sheep and cattle?

4. How does the Commission recommend that such measures should be applied in the New Forest, an area in the south-east of England in which there are many feral and semi-feral ponies, on Dartmoor or in the Camargue?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

In relation to imports from third countries of food of animal origin, these countries submit in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/49/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC (2) for approval by the Commission a plan setting out guarantees as regards monitoring and control of residues of veterinary medicinal products that must have an effect at least equivalent to those provided for food of animal origin produced in the Member States. In particular, the third countries must have in place the relevant legislation, including legislation on veterinary medicinal products for use in food producing animals.

Breeding of equidae and the production of meat from solipeds are not subject to Community market measures, for this reason detailed figures on the production of such meat are not available. However, according to the Commission's statistical and economic information 2001 the self-sufficiency of the 15 Member States (EU-15) in meat from solipeds is about 30 to 35 %. The Union Equus 2000 conference estimated the total horse population in the EU-15 of 4,5 million animals. According to Eurostat the EU-15 imported in 2002 a total of 84 404 equidae for slaughter and 59 457 tons of meat from solipeds.

With regard to the Commission's motivation for adopting Commission Decision 2000/68/EC of 22 December 1999 amending Commission Decision 93/623/EEC and establishing the identification of equidae for breeding and production, the Commission wishes to recall that a solution to the real or perceived lack of medicinal products for treatment of horses was vigorously requested by the Parliament, the Council, international veterinary organisations and, last but not least, the affected horse industry and owners of equidae. The Commission received most requests for an exceptional solution for equidae from Member States where the consumption of meat from solipeds is least popular.

In 2001 the Commission proposed amendments to Directive 2001/82/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products (3), amongst others to take into account the identification of equidae and derogation with respect to treatment of equidae with medicinal product under the conditions provided for in the Commission Decision 2000/68/EC. The proposal is presently in the co-decision process.

The Commission has no intention to propose similar measures for species such as pigs, sheep and cattle. Such animals are normally raised exclusively for food production and are subject to identification requirements under Community law taking into account relevant production conditions.

The Commission is of course aware of difficulties in implementing Decision 2000/68/EC in certain Member States. However, the horses of the feral or semi-feral breeds referred to by the Honourable Member are registered with their respective breeding organisation approved in accordance with Directive 90/427/EEC of 26 June 1990 on the zootechnical and genealogical conditions governing intra-Community trade in equidae (4). Registered horses born after 1 January 1998 must have a passport in accordance with Commission Decision 93/623/EEC of 20 October 1993 establishing the identification document (passport) accompanying registered equidae (5). The use of the passport for horses in Camargue has proven valid for example in 2000, when during the movement restrictions due to West Nile Fever in that area, traceability had to be maintained also for horses used to herd semi-feral Camarguese cattle, which, as other bovine animals, are fully traceable through double ear-tags, passport and cattle database.

(1) OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 72.

(2) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996.

(3) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001.

(4) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(5) OJ L 298, 3.12.1993.