WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4138/97 by David BOWE to the Commission. Import of primates from Indonesia
Date: 1998-01-21
Institutions: BOWE, European Parliament
Subjects: Indonesia, animal experimentation, export monitoring, international sanctions, marketing, monkey, protected species, protection of animals, report, wildlife

22. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 196/85

(98/C 196/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4137/97

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Import of primates from Indonesia

What action does the Commission propose to take in the light of the breaches of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the serious animal suffering recorded in the recent report received by
the Commission on the trade in non-human primates from Indonesia?

(98/C 196/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4138/97

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Import of primates from Indonesia

In view of the findings of the recent report on the trade in non-human primates from Indonesia and, in particular,
the  serious  breaches  of  CITES  provisions  and  the  immense  animal  suffering  recorded,  is  the  Commission
considering carrying out its own investigation into the trade in primates?

Furthermore,  will  the  Commission  consider  imposing  an  embargo  on  the  use  of  primates  originating  from
Indonesia in experiments in the EU, pending the results of such an investigation?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-4137/97 and E-4138/97
given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 1998)

The  Commission  is  aware  of  the  November  1997  report  by  the  British  union  for  the  abolition  of  vivisection
(BUAV) on a number of shipments of primates from Indonesia to the United States. As at least one shipment
transited through the Community, the Commission reminded the authorities of the Member State concerned of
the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild
fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1) and in particular Article 9(5) thereof.

The  Commission  further  requested  the  Indonesian  Convention  on  international  trade  in  endangered  species
(CITES) management authority to provide it with a reaction to the claims in the BUAV report and to indicate its
policy  with  regard  to  the  implementation  of  International  air  transport  association  (IATA)  regulations  and
captive breeding.

The  Commission  will  consider  whether  measures  under  Articles  4(6)  (c)  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  338/97  are
necessary in the light of the results of the necessary consultations.

(1)  OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(98/C 196/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4142/97

by Francisco Sanz Ferna·ndez (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Intercultural education/Socrates programme

Will the Commission give details of the budget for 1997 allocated to Action 2 of Chapter II (Comenius) of the
Socrates programme? What proportion of this budget was earmarked for the education of gypsies?

What projects intended for the education of gypsies were subsidized during 1997?

Were any other type of projects intended for gypsies subsidized within the framework of this programme?