WRITTEN QUESTION E-0239/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 February 2001)

Subject: Exotic animal species: inadvertent increase in transport time and higher death rate

1. Is the Commission familiar with reports to the effect that action by the Netherlands government aimed at saving exotic animals from poor survival prospects during transportation and intolerable living conditions thereafter can easily be evaded because no customs inspections are carried out at internal borders?

2. How does the Commission assess the report than Netherlands animal dealers are now importing exotic species through the Brussels and Frankfurt airports and then further transporting them over land, with the result that the animals have to be overloaded, the journey now takes twice as long, and many more animals are dying during transportation than hitherto?

3. Have more or less stringent requirements been imposed in practice on the trade in and admission of exotic species in the other 14 European Union Member States than in the Netherlands to the end of 2000? Are there important differences between Member States in the matter of transportation, inspection and admission as domestic pets?

4. How many of the 280 external-border inspection centres in the European Union Member States are empowered to investigate and authorise the importing of exotic species?

5. Is the Commission aware of ways and means whereby the practice of combining lawful imports into one Member State with forwarding free of checks to another could be restricted? What arrangements already exist in that connection?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0238/01, E-0239/01 and E-0240/01 given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2001)

The introduction into the Community of endangered species of wild fauna and flora is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97(1) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97(2) on the implementation of the Council Regulation.

Under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 Member States have indicated places of introduction into and export from the Community(3).

The Dutch authorities have indicated the following places of introduction and export of live animals covered by this Regulation:

- Schiphol-Gebouw Cargocentre, Handelskade 130;

- Schiphol-Gebouw WTC, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol;

- Maastricht-Aachen Airport Passagiersafhandeling;

- Maastricht-Aachen Airport Vrachtafhandeling.

The Commission has no indication of changes to the above list in the framework of Regulation (EC) No 338/97.

Imports of all live animals and animal products are only permitted at border inspection posts that have been approved by the Commission and listed in the official journal. The procedures and import conditions for such imports are harmonised under various Directives and implementing rules. Import rules for live animal species not covered by a specific Directive fall under the Balai Directive 92/65/EC(4). The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office makes inspections of all border inspection posts in the Community to verify both the actual facilities and the procedures that are operated there.

The Commission is aware of the refusal of KLM and some other European airlines to transport live wild animals and it shares the concerns about the welfare of live animals caused by these restrictions. The Commission supports the transport of live animals by airlines which respect International Air Transport Association (IATA) norms established for the transport of such specimens.

Increasing volumes of trade in wild pet species can partly be explained by more complete trade reporting by Member States over the past few years. For detailed information on these trade volumes the Commission refers the Honourable Member to the Community annual report to CITES established under Article 15 4 a) and b) of the Council Regulation. It should also be pointed out that under the above Community Regulations, trade is strictly monitored at Community level and import restrictions can be put in place when and where necessary. As a result, the trade permitted under this Regulation complies with the principle of sustainable use of wildlife, providing socio-economic incentives for developing countries to enhance conservation of endangered species.

With regard to the survival prospects of exotic pet animals, it should be noted that in many cases the natural life span of a wild specimen may well be much shorter than that of the captive specimen of the same species, as the latter is not exposed to predators and other dangers resulting from life in nature. Under Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 the authorities of the Member States have the responsibility for ensuring that pet traders provide buyers of wild pet animals with information about how to take care of the animals. Finally, Regulation (EC) No 338/97 allows for import restrictions on specimens of species which have a high mortality rate during shipment or for which it has been established that they are unlikely to survive well in captivity (Article 4 6 c)). A certain number of import restrictions taken on this basis are in place and published in a Commission Regulation(5).

As a result of the Single Market, internal border controls have been abolished and stricter trade control measures have been adopted at the Community's external borders. Stricter trade measures by individual Member States are not possible under the Council Regulation. However, Member States have the option of adopting stricter measures with regard to the prohibition of possession of certain animals. It is the Commission's opinion however that the existing Community Regulations on trade in wildlife give the appropriate tools for the conservation and the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2) OJ L 140, 30.5.1997.

(3) Commission Communication OJ C 356, 8.12.1999.

(4) Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (OJ L 268, 14.9.1992).

(5) OJ L 29, 30.1.2001.