WRITTEN QUESTION E-1602/01

by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Commission Decision of 29 June 2000

Recital 9 of Commission Decision 2000/418/EC(1) of 29 June 2000 regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and amending Decision 94/474/EC(2) prohibits the stunning of animals by gas injection and the production of brain death by the laceration of central nervous tissue ('pithing') in view of the contagious nature of BSE.

Council Directive 93/119/EC(3) of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing defines the term stunning as follows: any process which, when applied to an animal, causes immediate loss of consciousness which lasts until death.

Would the Commission clarify the following points:

1. In practice, Council Directive 93/119/EC is often implemented in an unsatisfactory manner. For example, the bolt apparatus generally used to stun animals is often not adequately maintained or not used properly, with the result that its effect is not strong enough to stun the animal before slaughter as required by the directive. This deplorable fact was, however, masked up to 1 January 2001 by the practice of pithing. The Commission's Decision of 29 June 2000 has brought it into the open (see http://www.tierschutz.cc on conditions in Austrian abattoirs). How will the Commission ensure that application of the decision does not lead to infringement of the directive? Are any additional controls planned? What provision has been made for accompanying measures?

2. Is the Commission aware of instances in the other Member States in which animals have been slaughtered without having been stunned in accordance with the provisions of the Directive?

3. Is the Commission supporting any research into acceptable methods of stunning animals?

(1) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000, p. 76.

(2) OJ L 194, 29.7.1994, p. 96.

(3) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The purpose of pithing was to stop post-stunning convulsions in the animal concerned and it was used in order to ensure the safety of the operator. Pithing ensured that no animal would recover from the effect of the captive bolt. However the use of pithing was limited particularly because of fears over dissemination of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agents and also because of improved stunning techniques.

The Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission (FVO) carries out regular inspections of slaughterhouses in the Member States. These inspections include checking that stunning procedures are applied in compliance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993, on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing.

From the recent inspections carried out by the FVO, there was evidence of problems concerning stunning practices in two Member States. At present one Member State is the object of an infringement procedure in relation to its failure to enforce some provisions of Directive 93/119/EC. However the deficiencies related to stunning were observed before Commission Decision 2000/418/EC of 29 June 2000 regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and amending Decision 94/474/EC entered into force.

The Commission does not presently provide financial support for any particular research project on acceptable methods of stunning. The Scientific Steering Committee is currently addressing the question of penetrative stunning methods.