WRITTEN QUESTION E-2637/00

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Transport of live animals

The directive on the protection of animals during transport (Directive 91/628/EEC(1) in the amended version of 1995/29/EC(2)) lays down the current legal framework for the transport of live animals. Compliance with this directive would make for a sound level of animal protection. Unfortunately, the directive is often not implemented properly in the Member States, one serious problem being the inadequate checks on shipments of animals by the competent authorities.

What steps is the Commission taking to foster the implementation of Directive 91/628/EEC in the Member States and step up checks on shipments of live animals?

Is the Commission prepared to reduce or discontinue export refunds for live animals?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

While Member States are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of Community legislation, the Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission undertakes specific control and inspection missions to check that Member States apply Community legislation in an effective and uniform manner.

These checks have revealed certain shortcomings in the compliance of some Member States with the Community legislation regarding the protection of animals during transport. As a result infringement proceedings have been opened against certain Member States and others are under evaluation.

The Commission will present to the Council and to the Parliament, before the end of the year, a report on the implementation in the Member States of Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport to the Council and to the Parliament.

Following the conclusion of this report the Commission intends to present proposals to improve the transport of animals.

Export of live animals is an important outlet for the Community beef market and cannot really be substituted by the export of beef meat due to the different slaughtering rites, the lack of coldstores in importing countries or the specific demand for fresh meat of the quality required in these countries. Additionally the export of breeding animals is a substantial part of the overall export of live animals and cannot be replaced either. If the export of live animals from the Community were to become impossible by phasing out export refunds, other suppliers would take over these markets. Australia, for example, increasingly exports live animals to the Arab world with a journey considerably longer than from the Community.

Furthermore Commission Regulation (EC) No 615/98 of 18 March 1998 provides specific detailed rules of application for export refund arrangements as regards the welfare of live bovine animals during transport(1) to third countries.

Under the above mentioned Regulation every consignment of bovine animals sent to third countries is required to comply, during the transport to the first place of unloading in the third country of final destination, with Community legislation in the field of the protection of animals during transport. Regulation (EC) No 615/98 provides for the possibility to carry out a veterinary check on the animals after their arrival in the third country of final destination.

When the results of these inspections (which must be carried out by a veterinarian) are not satisfactory as far as animal welfare is concerned, the payment of the export refund is refused or if already granted is recoverable.

(1) OJ L 82, 19.3.1998.