WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(24 July 2002)

Subject: Setting-up of a test monkey farm in Camarles (Tarragona)

The company Centre de Recherches Primatologiques has re-embarked on plans to construct a farm in the town of Camarles (Province of Tarragona) for breeding African monkeys for use in research centres in Europe and the USA. Both the regional government of Catalonia and the local council had originally refused licences for the project, but recently decided to grant them.

Several citizens' and animal welfare associations have already declared their opposition to the construction of the farm, which is to occupy an area of 100 000 square metres on the outskirts of Camarles. These associations argue, among other things, that the breeding of monkeys on farms contravenes various animal welfare laws, that the species of monkey to be bred might constitute a risk for the local population by carrying viruses such as ebola (many airline companies, for example, already refuse to carry this type of monkey) and that according to authorities in the field, there was a risk of the monkeys bred at the farm becoming intermixed with monkeys of irregular origin, since direct exportation from Africa was a complex matter, and this would make it possible to acquire European certificates of origin for such monkeys.

The EU Treaties advocate ensuring improved protection and respect for the welfare of animals as sentient beings(1), and it should be borne in mind that, as the regional government of Catalonia itself recognises, the prospective farm is to breed and supply animals for experimental purposes and would therefore be governed by Directive 86/609/EEC(2).

Have the Spanish authorities furnished the Commission with information concerning the proposed monkey farm in Camarles, as is required under Article 22 of Directive 86/609/EEC for all animal experiment activities conducted on Community territory?

Can the Commission guarantee that the farm has been authorised under the terms provided for in Article 13 of that Directive?

Does the Commission not feel that it should launch an investigation to verify that the plans submitted for authorisation provide details of the relevant measures to be taken pursuant to Articles 5 and 7 of the above Directive with regard to the general care and accommodation of animals?

Would the Commission be prepared to intervene with the Spanish authorities in order to halt construction work on the farm if it proves not to fulfil the criteria set out in Directive 86/609/EEC?

(1) See the Protocol on protection and welfare of animals, annexed to the EU Treaties.

(2) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

Article 22 of Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, provides for measures to avoid duplication of experiments. The information to be provided to the Commission in this regard concerns administrative and legal practices governing animal experimentation. The Directive does not require notification to the Commission of planned breeding establishments.

Article 13 of the Directive sets the conditions for the collection of statistical data on experiments using animals and is therefore not relevant here. However, Article 15 provides that

breeding and supplying establishments shall be approved by, or registered with, the authority and comply with the requirements of Articles 5 on care and accommodation of animals and Article 14 on education and training of personnel involved in animal experimentation. The Commission has no reason to assume that these provisions are not being met.

According to the Directive, the control of breeding establishments for experimental animals is the responsibility of the national competent authorities. The Commission has so far not received any indication that the competent Spanish authorities do not sufficiently carry out this control.

The Commission considers that there is currently no basis for a Commission investigation. However, the Commission would be grateful for information about possible infringements of the Directive in the above context, which the Honourable Member may have.