WRITTEN QUESTION P-0298/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Animal welfare in Europe and third countries

Council Directive 93/119/EC(1) of 22 December 1993 concerns the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing. It lays down very detailed conditions for the slaughter of animals. In third countries, however, different rules apply to the slaughter of animals. The Commission was supposed to be drawing up a report comparing the relevant rules in the EU with those in third countries. That report was promised for June 1999.

Has this report now been drawn up and, if so, can the Commission say what the results of its investigations are, or are the investigations in question still being carried out?

If the report should indicate that third-country rules on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing are considerably less stringent than European rules, can the Commission state whether and to what extent they adversely affect the competitiveness of EU producers?

What measures will the Commission take to ensure that meat imported from third countries is subject to the same animal welfare rules as meat from animals slaughtered in the EU, and, conversely, that it is able to see to it that animals exported from the European Union for slaughter in third countries are subject to the same rules governing slaughter as those set out in Directive 93/119/EC)?

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

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

In accordance with Article 8 of Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes(1) the Commission is analysing the information on animal welfare legislation provided by countries trading animals and animal products with the Community. The results of the comparison with the relevant Community legislation should be available before June 2002.

At present only the conventions of the Council of Europe on the protection of farmed animals, during transport and at slaughterhouses, are available as multilateral agreements on animal welfare. In the specific area of protection at slaughterhouses, all the Member States have signed the Convention as well as the following third countries: Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Yugoslavia.

Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing(2) requires for meat imported from third countries at least equivalent treatment to that provided for in this directive.

The Commission has constantly maintained its efforts to obtain wider international acceptance of welfare principles laid down in the Community legislation and, in particular, in the context of WTO. The Commission will continue to work in this direction during the current WTO negotiations, while investigating future measures and actions compatible with the present international obligations of the Community that could support producers within or outside the Community to apply better welfare standards.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.

(2) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.