WRITTEN QUESTION E-1633/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (14 May 1997)

Subject: Responsibility for animal welfare in DG VI and DG XXIV

In view of the reorganization of some units of DG VI following the transfer of certain responsibilities to DG XXIV, would the Commission use this opportunity to give serious consideration to amending the existing formal consultative procedures to include animal welfare?

Although virtually all other sectors of the agricultural industry are formally consulted over issues in one form or another, this does not apply to animal welfare. Would the Commission not agree that the continued absence of any formal consultation with a representative animal welfare organization would be seen by some as another example of DG VI's bias towards the industry, particularly in matters concerning the welfare of farm animals?

The new responsibilities assumed by DG XXIV include the monitoring of the Veterinary Inspectorate and supervision of the work of the Scientific Committees. Would the Commission give an assurance that not only will the monitoring of the effectiveness of Directive 95/29/EC on the transport of animals remain a priority for the Inspectorate, but that it will also do its best to increase the present inadequate resources available for this task?

In addition would the Commission give a further assurance that the issue of the welfare of farm animals will remain a priority for the work of the Scientific Veterinary Committee?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (26 June 1997)

The Commission is currently reviewing the structure of the consultative committees which give advice in the area of agriculture policy, including veterinary policy. In view of the increasing importance of the subject, it is proposed to create a permanent group to deal with animal welfare matters. Membership of this group will include a representative of a European animal welfare organisation.

Although the Commission has until now had no formal consultation procedures with European animal welfare organisations, there have been frequent contacts with multinational and national European animal welfare organisations. The Commission has a close co-operation with such organizations, and some of them have forwarded valuable information to the Commission often giving well-documented evidence of deficiencies in such fields as animal transport and stunning of animals. During several animal welfare missions to Member States, a Commission veterinary expert has made use of this information when carrying out on-the-spot inspections of border inspection posts, markets, and abattoirs. There will be no change in this attitude after the transfer of inspection services from Directorate General VI to XXIV. Suggestions to include other organizations are welcome.

The Commission has also had contacts with associations set up at European level such as organizations representing livestock markets, slaughterhouses, livestock transporters, but these contacts never lead it to favour particular industry interests.

The animal welfare inspections will continue within the new framework and the Commission will endeavour to increase the number of inspection staff in this field. Animal welfare issues have always taken an important place in the workload of the scientific veterinary committee, and will continue to do so.