WRITTEN QUESTION E-1701/97 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (20 May 1997)

Subject: Transport of live animals

In connection with EU subsidies for exports of live animals, will the Commission specify which countries live animals are exported to?

1. How many animals are exported to each of those countries?

2. What have the trends been as regards exports of live animals from EU Member States to other countries over the past 15 years?

3. How much subsidy per animal does the Community pay?

4. Do rules exist on the conditions in which the animals may be transported and, if so, who monitors such transport operations?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1997)

1. With the exception of day-old chicks, the only live animals exported with the benefit of export refunds from the Community to third countries are cattle. 497 491 animals were exported in 1996. The main countries of

destination for live exports were Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and Libya. 79% of the Community exports of live animals went to these four countries as follows:

>TABLE>

2. Exports of live animals during the past 6 years and the percentage of total beef exports which they represented were:

>TABLE>

For the first five months of 1997, an estimate shows that licence applications were lodged for exports of 119,145 live animals. This figure indicates a further reduction in Community exports of live animals. Furthermore, for the second GATT year 1996/1997, licence applications for export licences have decreased for live animals to approximately 9% of total beef exports.

3. Export refunds for beef and live animals are fixed at least every three months and published in the Official journal. The present amounts of the export refunds were published in Commission Regulation (EC) No 982/97 of 30 May 1997 ((From 1995 due to the enlargement of the European Union Austria, Sweden and Finland are included in the statistics. )). Since January 1997 the refund level has been reduced by 22.5% - 32.5%.

The export refund paid on beef is differentiated. The rate of refund varies according to destination. The refund paid for live animals other than pure bred to the destinations with the highest refunds are 57.50 ECU/100 kg live weight for male cattle and 38.50 ECU/100 kg live weight for female cattle, while for fresh meat of male adult bovine animals the refund rate is 122.50 ECU/100 kg carcase weight.

The table below shows the relation between the refund for live bovine animals (other than pure bred animals) and fresh carcases, for exports to destinations with the highest refunds:

(ECU/100 kg)

>TABLE>

4. Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended by Directive 95/29/EC ((OJ L 148, 30.6.1995. )) concerning the protection of animals during transport, contains provisions designed to ensure the respect by transport operators, transporting animals from Community territory to third countries, of adequate welfare conditions for the animals. In particular, the authorities of the exporting Member State must ensure that no animal is transported unless suitable provisions have been made for its care during the journey. The transport of animals should be carried out in lorries and vessels which are adequate for the purpose. Under rules introduced by Directive 95/29/EC, a route plan must be prepared in advance and transmitted to the authority. The staff in charge of the transport must have the route plan certified at the point where the animals leave the Community, after the animals have been checked and judged by an official to be fit to continue their journey.

On a proposal from the Commission, discussions have started with the Member States about the withdrawal of the export refund from exporters who have not fully respected the rules on the welfare of animals during transport. A new legal basis has been proposed (to the basic regulation for beef, Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal), stipulating that in the case of exports of live animals, the payment of the export refund shall be subject to the respect of the animal welfare standards, as set out in Community legislation.