WRITTEN QUESTION E-0240/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 February 2001)

Subject: Exotic animal species: removing animals unsuitable as domestic pets from the European market

1. Can the European Commission produce figures confirming that imports of exotic animal species have risen in recent years? Which Member States are major players in this growing import trade, and which display a low or even a falling trend in such imports?

2. Does the Commission agree that the practice of keeping exotic animals as pets must not only be controlled but must also be firmly discouraged, both because such animals face poor survival prospects in what is for them an unnatural environment, and because some such animals living in captivity pose a threat to humans and other animals in the vicinity if they manage to escape?

3. Is the Commission aware of any effective means whereby the national authorities in the Member States could prevent the entry of exotic animal species without coming into conflict with existing European Union rules? What options are available to the Commission and which ones does it rule out?

4. Will the Commission act to ensure that imports of exotic animals other than for delivery to zoos or for use in scientific research will be intercepted at the European Union's external borders or be made subject to stringent restrictions?

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.