WRITTEN QUESTION P-0395/00 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Canadian seal cull quota.
Date: 2000-02-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canada, EU relations, animal skin, application of EU law, environmental policy, import (EU), marine mammal, protection of animal life

C 330 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

(2000/C 330 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0393/00

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 February 2000)

Subject: Council Directive 91/628 (as amended by Council Directive 95/29 of June 1995) on protection of

animals during transport

Council Directive 91/628 (1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29 (2) concerning the protection of
animals during transport states that no live animal shall be transported in a condition which can cause
suffering and that the Member States are responsible for the proper enforcement of the Directive.

According to Article 13 of Council Directive 95/29 of June 1995, the Commission should submit before
31 December 1999 a report to the Council on the experience acquired by the Member States since the
implementation of the Directive, possibly accompanied by proposals. When does the Commission expect
to comply with this requirement?

Does the Commission agree that the proposals accompanying the Commission(cid:146)s report to the Council
should call for the EU to adopt a major change of policy whereby the long distance transport of live
animals is abandoned and replaced by a trade in meat?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s responsibilities towards animal protection have increased under the recent amendment
of the EC Treaty which requires the European institutions and Member States to consider animal welfare a
priority when drawing up agricultural, transport, single market and research policies.

During the first quarter of this year following the provision of Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC
as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during
transport, the Commission will present to the Council a report on the experience acquired by Member
States in the application of Community legislation in this field.

if all provisions of Community legislation are rigorously enforced,
It is the Commission(cid:146)s view that,
animals can be transported under satisfactory welfare conditions. However, it is evident that problems are
being experienced, especially with very long distance travel, both within the Community and for animals
imported from European third countries. These problems are being kept under close review by the
Commission, and are drawn to the attention of Member States as and when they occur.

The data concerning the enforcement of the Directive on animal protection during transport derived from
the above mentioned report as well as new scientific evidence in this subject will be taken into account by
the Commission to amend current Community legislation.

(2000/C 330 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0395/00

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(8 February 2000)

Subject: Canadian seal cull quota

The Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Herb Dhaliwal, has recently announced the quota for seal
hunting. The 2000 quota is set at 275 000 for zadel seals and 10 000 for klapmutsen. These quotas are the
same as last year but in previous years the quotas were on the increase (having quadrupled since 1995).

21.11.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/151

Studies published in the scientific journals Mar(cid:237)ne Mammal Science (July 1999) and Conservation Biology
(28 October 1999) indicate that the actual number of seals killed by hunting (zadel seals) in Canada and
Greenland was between 417 000 and 533 000 last year. The studies sat that if (cid:145)sustainable hunting(cid:146) means
that hunting does not result in a fall in population (i.e. the birth rate keeps pace with the number of seals
killed), the actual number of seals killed should be in the order of 93 000 and 264 000. Accordingly, the
number of seals killed as a result of hunting should be adjusted downwards.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the publications in the periodicals referred to above?

In the Commission(cid:146)s view, how do the results of these studies relate to the quota laid down by the

2.
Canadian government?

Is the Commission prepared to take action to urge the Canadian government to change its policy? If

3.
so, what action?

4.
Can the Commission provide any information on compliance with the seals directive (83/129/
EEC) (1), as amended in 1985 and 1989? Can the Commission guarantee that Member States are actually
complying with this directive?

(1) OJ L 91, 9.4.1983, p. 30.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2000)

The Commission is aware of the scientific publications mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The quotas for harp and hooded seal hunting in Canada have remained unchanged since 1996 and neither
species is considered endangered, according to the International Union for conservation of nature and
natural resources (IUCN) red list of threatened animals. The Commission takes it that the Canadian
authorities are aware of problems concerning the relation between quotas and effective harvest numbers
and that for that reason an extensive harp seal population survey has been conducted by the Canadian
Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans in 1999 with final results expected in spring 2000. Consequently the
Commission sees no need to intervene in this matter.

The Commission has no reason to assume that Council Directive 83/129/EEC of 28 March 1983
concerning the importation into Member States of skins of certain seal pups and products derived
therefrom, which only concerns furs of whitecoat pups of harp seals and of blueback pups of hooded
seals, is not correctly implemented in the Member States. Some years ago miscoding of lambskins led to
the impression that whitehead skins had been imported into the Community. Commercial harvesting of
whitecoats and bluebacks is against the law in Canada. As a result of this measure it appears that trade in
these specific kinds of seal skins has petered out.

(2000/C 330 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0397/00

by Doris Pack (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 February 2000)

Subject: FIBT advertising rights on bobsleighs, helmets and competitors(cid:146) clothing

In its International Rules on World Cup and European and world championship competitions, the Milan-
based FIBT (International Bobsleighing and Tobogganing Federation) claims ownership of items that belong
to competitors and clubs and/or national associations.