WRITTEN QUESTION E-3816/00

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Community rules on the transport of live animals

Will the Commission guarantee that, when bringing forward its action on enforcement of Community rules on the transport of live animals, it sets standards that are no less stringent than those recently imposed by the Government of Slovenia?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

The protection of animals during transport is an important concern for the Commission. The first Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport was adopted in 1977. Since then it has been replaced by Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC(1) as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995(2) which introduced important changes such as the approval of transporters and the route plan as well as loading densities and travelling time limits.

On 16 October 2000 the Slovenian government started to carry out inspections and controls on the cross border transport of animals to verify compliance with the relevant Community legislation on transport conditions and travel times, as incorporated into national Slovenian law.

The initiative of the Slovenian government comes in response to the action plan for short-term improvements concerning the protection of animals during long-distance transport presented by the Member of the Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection in May 2000 to all candidate countries.

The action plan for short-term improvements for the protection of animals during long distance transport was discussed at the TAIEX (Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office) meeting of Chief Veterinary Officers of the candidate countries in Lisbon in April 2000. It foresees enforcement in the short term of key requirements of Community legislation on animal transport, notably for the transport of horses.

The quick follow-up to the action plan was first announced by the Slovenian veterinary authorities at the TAIEX seminar on the protection of animals during transport held in Bratislava in September 2000. The TAIEX Office has developed programmes, i.e. training to raise awareness on animal health and welfare issues, including the transport of animals, for the general public and in particular for veterinarians in the candidate countries. TAIEX has also established a Working group of officials from all candidate countries to assist the process of adoption and implementation of Community rules on animal welfare. The next meeting of this group, scheduled for February 2001, will specifically deal with the implementation of rules on the protection of animals during transport.

Furthermore, the Commission has also recently adopted a report(3) on the experience acquired by Member States since the implementation of the Directive on the protection of animals during transport. The document has been submitted to the Council and to the Parliament. Following the outcome of the report the Commission will start to review the current legislation in order to continue to improve the situation.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(3) Report from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport, COM(2000) 809 final.