WRITTEN QUESTION E-2376/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 July 2000)

Subject: Transportation of live animals

Would the Commission state whether it is concerned at mounting numbers of reports that the provisions in EU legislation to protect animals during transport are being flouted, and outline what steps it intends to take to improve the situation?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

Member States are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of Community legislation in this area. Commission experts, however, carry out periodic on-the-spot checks to encourage uniform application of the relevant legislation and adequate action by Member States to ensure compliance with the rules concerned.

A working group of the standing veterinary committee was set up in 1999 and it is currently examining various problems concerning the enforcement of Community legislation in respect of animal transport operations.

In accordance with Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directive 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC(1), the Commission will as soon as possible submit a report to the Council on the experience acquired by Member States in relation to the application of Community legislation in this field. The report will also be presented to Parliament.

The data concerning the enforcement of the directives on animal protection during transport derived from the above-mentioned report, the conclusions of the working group, as well as new scientific evidence in this field, will be taken into account by the Commission when proposing amendments to improve current Community legislation.

Both the working group of the standing veterinary committee and the conclusions above-mentioned have identified several areas of difficulty in relation to enforcement. Practical solutions for these problems are currently being examined.

The Commission will in the near future submit proposals to address these difficulties. In particular it will propose higher standards for the protection of horses transported for slaughter and measures designed to facilitate co-ordination and mutual assistance between Member States in relation to implementation and enforcement of the relevant rules. For example, adoption of a harmonized model for the approval and certification of transporters will be considered.

The Commission is also considering legislation concerning the ventilation of vehicles used for long-distance transport including systems for the monitoring and registration of temperature inside the compartments in which the animals are carried.

In addition, the Commission believes that the most effective way to achieve a widespread improvement in animal protection standards is to work towards an international consensus on this issue. The question of long distance transport of animals and in particular horses has been discussed with the heads of the veterinary services of the Central and East European countries which are in the process of negotiating accession to the Community. Based on the outcome of those discussions a protocol for the protection of horses during transport has been agreed.

In this framework the Commission is seeking a mandate from the Council to negotiate the participation of the Community in the revised European Convention for the protection of animals during international transport. This Convention (negotiated under the auspices of the Council of Europe), when ratified and enforced by the contracting parties, will help to ensure an acceptable level of animal welfare protection throughout Europe.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.