WRITTEN QUESTION E-0602/00 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Outbreak of avian influenza in some parts of Italy.
Date: 2000-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Italy, animal disease, carcase, poultry farming, slaughter of animals

C 26 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

Reply

(26 June 2000)

The Council has, as such, no competence to review the operation of the Agreement and Guidelines for
lending of the EBRD, which institution was created by an international agreement concluded between, at
the time, 39 European and non European countries, such as the USA and Japan on the one hand and the
EU and the EIB on the other hand.

(2001/C 26 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0602/00

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Outbreak of avian influenza in some parts of Italy

(3 March 2000)

In connection with the avian flu epidemic currently affecting some parts of Italy, which has led to the
death or slaughter of seven million birds.

Can the Commission state:

(cid:129) what methods were used for the slaughter of the birds that did not die as a direct cause of the
epidemic, who they were slaughtered by, on whose authorisation and at which sites and how many
birds have been slaughtered;

(cid:129) whether and in what way the provisions of Directive 93/119/EC (1) (transposed by means of Legislative

Decree No 333 of 1 September 1998) have been complied with;

(cid:129) what method has been chosen for the disposal of the birds slaughtered as a result of the epidemic?

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

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2000)

By mid March 2000 the Italian authorities had reported 368 outbreaks of avian influenza. The outbreaks
have occurred in different kinds of species and production types. About 12,2 million birds have been killed
at infected poultry farms and 3 million at farms considered as contact farms or as being high risk farms.

Exact data for birds that died because of the disease and those which have definitively been killed in the
affected farms are not yet available. One reason for the missing figures is that the disease can cause
mortality that can reach up to 100 % in a very short period of time. Animals often die while arrangements
for their destruction are being made.

The method of killing birds was discussed at the meeting of the standing veterinary committee in January
and again in March 2000. At the later meeting the Italian delegation announced that the provisions of
Council Directive 93/119/EEC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing (1) were
being applied. This Directive (Annex C) lists the permitted methods of killing poultry as electrocution,
exposure to carbon dioxide, decapitation, dislocation of the neck and the use of a vacuum chamber.
During execution specific requirements must be fulfilled within the framework of the overall objective
(Article 3) of this Directive; thus to spare animals (cid:145)any avoidable excitement, pain or suffering during
movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter or killing(cid:146). In addition to the killing methods referred to
above the competent authority may apply other killing methods for disease control during epidemics
(Annex E). In such situations the methods applied must be in compliance with the general provisions of

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/69

Article 3 of the Directive. The Italian epidemiological centre for the region of Veneto has, in co-operation
with the national reference laboratory for avian influenza, published an operational manual (2) in case of
occurrence of avian influenza. This manual comprises the different methods for the killing of different
types of poultry flocks.

Carcasses of dead birds were either buried or taken to rendering plants.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.
(2) Manuale Operativo in caso di Influenza aviaria, Anno 1999, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie,
Centro Regionale Epidemiologia Veterinaria Regione Veneto, Laboratorio Nazionale di Riferimento Influenza aviaria.

(2001/C 26 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0603/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Setting up the Southwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation

(3 March 2000)

The EU is taking part in the talks on setting up the Southwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, a new
multilateral body for fishing in West African waters. Since the fishing industry may be affected by this new
body, what position will the EU be adopting with regard to consulting the industry?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2000)

The Commission takes care to consult the fishing industry when preparing for negotiations within the
international fishery organisations.

For instance, it organised a meeting (Brussels, 17 March) to consult the organisations with an interest in
the work of the Resource Allocation Group of the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas.

Such consultation would be premature in the case of the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation since
the instruments to establish it are only at the preparatory stage. The industry will be consulted when it has
been set up.

(2001/C 26 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0604/00

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 February 2000)

Subject: Budget heading B7-6000

1. Will the Commission list all projects submitted under the abovementioned budget heading for the
years 1998 and 1999?

2. Will it list all projects which have received funding under the abovementioned budget heading for
the years 1998 and 1999?

3. Will it indicate the timescale and details of the selection procedure used for projects submitted under
the budget heading in question?