WRITTEN QUESTION E-3136/01

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Payment of export refunds on live cattle

On 25 October 2001, Parliament voted to delete from the 2002 budget the payment of export refunds on live slaughter and breeding cattle exported from the European Union to third countries. Last year, that trade was subsidised by the EU taxpayer to the tune of EUR 58 million and involved over 300 000 cattle.

Moreover, the German Government asked for a discussion to be held at the Council of Agriculture Ministers of 23 October on the ending of export refunds in respect of live cattle exported from the EU to third countries for slaughter. Last year, Germany exported 76 204 slaughter cattle to third countries, more than any other Member State. That discussion was held over to a future Council meeting.

Given that, on 6 April 2001, Commissioner David Byrne said I believe that we need to limit the transport of animals over long-distance journeys to the really necessary ones, does the Commission still hold the view that export refunds should continue to be payable on live cattle exported from the EU to third countries.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

At the first reading of the preliminary draft budget for 2002, Parliament approved a reduction of 58 million in the budget heading for refunds in the beef sector. This amount is equivalent to the export refunds for all bovine animals (breeding and slaughter).

On 20 November 2001 the Council examined the question of refunds for slaughter cattle.

In the interests of improving the conditions under which animals are transported, the Commission is considering presenting to the Council a proposal amending Council Directive 91/628/EEC(1) on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC. With the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare expected to deliver a new opinion at the beginning of 2002, a review of transport times and loading density standards is not out of the question.

The Commission shares the opinion the Council expressed in its resolution of 19 June 2001(2). Animal welfare cannot be dealt with in isolation; it must be seen in the context of the sector as a whole.

At its sitting on 14 November 2001 Parliament adopted a resolution approving the report issued by the parliamentary committees on agriculture and rural development and environment, public health and consumer policy, and, in particular, called on the Commission to abolish export refunds for live animals for slaughter at the earliest possible opportunity. This also demonstrates Parliament's conviction that this issue should not be dealt with in

isolation, without taking into account other aspects relating to the livestock sector. What is more, experience has shown that it is unrealistic to believe that if the refunds in question were abolished, countries which have been traditional importers of live slaughter animals would switch to importing meat. Given the supply situation on world markets, they would simply look to other cattle-exporting countries for their supplies of these animals.

In the Commission's opinion, the priority is to ensure strict enforcement of existing animal welfare legislation. To this end, certain control criteria designed to improve the conditions under which animals are transported, and the accompanying penalties for infringements, need to be tightened up. A number of initiatives are already under way in this respect.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2) OJ C 273, 28.9.2001.