WRITTEN QUESTION E-2939/98

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Rabies controls for pet animals

Does the Commission agree that there is a need for an EU-wide framework of rules and standards to prevent the spread of rabies, while permitting domestic pets to be transported, and will it disclose the incidence of rabies in applicant countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1998)

The Community has for a number of years recognised the need for rules and standards to control the spread of rabies and a major goal has been to eradicate rabies in the Member States where the disease is still present. Within the framework of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1) the Community actively supports rabies eradication by large-scale programmes for oral vaccination of sylvatic foxes. These programmes take into account that the vast majority of rabies cases in Europe occur in foxes. The preparation and implementation of the programmes are co-ordinated by the Commission and financial contributions are not only made to the Member States concerned, but also to continental neighbour countries. The adopted measures should help to protect the territories of Member States where rabies is successfully controlled or eradicated.

In all the efforts made to control and eradicate rabies the Member States and the Commission work in close co-operation with international organisations, such as the World health organisation (WHO) and the Office international des epizooties (OIE). In this framework and due to the excellent relations with our neighbouring countries, including the candidate member countries, information is regularly received about the rabies situation in Europe and other parts of the world. Information on the occurrence of rabies in domestic and wild animals in Europe is published in the "Rabies Bulletin Europe". The information is compiled and edited by the WHO Collaborating centre for rabies surveillance and research, Tübingen, Germany.

The conditions for the movement of cats and dogs in intra-Community trade are found in 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(2). As regards importation from third countries Member States may not apply conditions less strict than for intra-Community trade. It can be noted that the provisions of Council Directive 90/425/EC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market do not apply to veterinary checks on movement between Member States of pets accompanied by and under the responsibility of a natural person, where such movements are not the subject of a commercial transaction.

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of Parliament further information on the incidence of rabiesfrom the Rabies Bulletin Europe.

(1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(2) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992.