WRITTEN QUESTION P-0513/00

by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 2000)

Subject: Removal of dead animals

It appears that there are substantial variations between Member States and even between regions concerning the policy on removal of dead animals. In Flanders, dead animals have to be collected by an organisation for a fixed fee ranging from BEF 5000 to BEF 20 000 a year, depending on the size of the farm. In other areas removal is completely free of charge. On the other hand, Flemish farmers have noted that dead animals in the United Kingdom are collected by local hunts, which use them to feed their hounds.

1. Does not the Commission think that a European regulation would end these differences, which can seriously disrupt competition between Member States and regions?

2. Is the Commission aware of practices in United Kingdom? If not, could the Commission investigate them?

3. Does the Commission intend to draw up a European regulation?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2000)

1. The Commission is aware that financial support for the processing and disposal of animal waste, including dead animals, varies in the different Member States and that such differences could affect the conditions of competition between agricultural products. The Commission is reflecting on the possibility of proposing harmonized rules on this issue at Community level.

2. Article 7 of Council Directive 90/667/EEC of 27 November 1990, laying down the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal waste, for its placing on the market and for the prevention of pathogens in feedstuffs of animal or fish origin and amending Directive 90/425/EEC(1) establishes that Member States may authorize in exceptional cases and under the supervision of the competent authority, the use of animal waste referred to in Article 3(1) (a), (b) (i.e. dead animals) and (e), provided it comes from animals which were not slaughtered as a result of the presence or suspected presence of a notifiable diseases, for the feeding of zoo, circus or fur animals, recognized packs of hounds and maggot farming for fishing bait. This derogation is not just limited to United Kingdom. Member States may also authorize the local distribution, through intermediaries already authorised on the date of adoption of Directive 90/667/EEC, of small quantities of the above animal waste for use as food for animals whose flesh is not intended for human consumption, provided that the competent authority considers that this entails no risk to human or animal health. Council Decision 95/348/EC of 22 June 1995 laying down the veterinary and animal health rules applicable in the United Kingdom and Ireland to the treatment of certain types of waste intended to be marketed locally as feedstuffs for certain animal categories(2) establishes the rules applicable in the United Kingdom and Ireland to the special treatment of this animal waste intended to be marketed locally though these authorised intermediaries.

3. A proposal for a Council and Parliament regulation establishing new rules for the disposal and the processing of animal waste is in preparation. Its submission to the Council and to the Parliament is scheduled for June 2000.

(1) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990 Directive last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession.

(2) OJ L 202, 26.8.1995.