WRITTEN QUESTION E-2611/02

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Transport/marketing of unmarked cattle from nature reserves

The management of nature parks and other protected areas is becoming increasingly important in the European Union. The recent debate in the Netherlands on the fate of Scottish Highland cattle in the Veluwezoom national park made it clear that the transport and marketing of these unmarked animals present problems.

1. What is the Commission's position on the enforcement of veterinary regulations and identification requirements for animals in nature reserves?

2. Does the Commission consider it possible, if derogations are allowed in respect of veterinary regulations or identification of animals, for products obtained from animals from such nature reserves to be marketed and/or for the animals to be transported to other nature reserves?

3. Can possible authorisation for marketing and/or transport be granted under the current legislation or does the Commission envisage submitting new proposals?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2002)

The identification and registration of animals has always been a fundamental part of the Community system managing various veterinary and commercial aspects of animal husbandry. The tracing of animals is of crucial importance for the control of contagious diseases and their eventual spread, to determine rapidly the place of origin of an animal or carcass and its movements throughout the Community.

From the animal health point of view, domestic animals in nature reserves are treated as animals kept in farms.

In the specific case of cattle, Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council on the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97(1) is applicable. Cattle must be identified with two eartags applied within a period to be determined by the Member State as from the birth of the animal and in any case before the animal leaves the holding. This period may not be longer than 20 days.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, Article 4(2), the Commission has determined the circumstances in which the maximum period for the application of eartags may be extended for:

- Spain, for bovine animals kept in extensive farming conditions and in free range where calves always stay close to their mother until they are separated at the age of six months at the latest. The eartags shall be applied when the calves are separated from their mothers, and in any case before they are six months old or if they leave the holding of birth before that age. The geographical zones and breeds to which the system may be applied are specified;

- animals belonging to Bison bison spp. kept in such farming conditions where calves always stay close to their mother until they are separated at the age of nine months at the latest. The eartags shall be applied when the calves are separated from their mothers, and in any case before they are nine months old or if they leave the holding of birth before that age.

These extensions shall not affect the quality of the information provided by the national database for bovine animals.

No derogation from the identification requirements for animals in nature reserves is foreseen in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. Hence the Member States are obliged to implement the provisions of the said Regulation for such animals. Following the foot and mouth disease crisis the Commission has carried out a thorough examination of all the contributory factors, and it is not the intention of the Commission at this stage to propose further amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

Finally, all Community rules concerning food safety (animal products) as well as concerning the welfare of animals (transport) are fully applicable to animals kept in nature reserves for which there are no derogations. The Commission does not envisage submitting new proposals.

(1) OJ L 204, 11.8.2000.