WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transport of live farm animals.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, carriage of goods, live animal, meat, scientific committee (EU), slaughter of animals, transport of animals

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/181

Will the European Commission indicate the steps it has taken to identify and given due consideration to
the impact of this suspension of the issue of export refund certificates on the value-added processed food
industry nearly five months before the end of the current financial year?

The timing of this suspension would imply that the export of products requiring export refunds have
increased by some 30 % over 1998-1999. Does the European Commission have any other firm evidence to
support this?

What proposals does the European Commission have to ensure that its approach towards the issue of
export refund certificates will be more even-handed, predictable and transparent in the coming financial
years?

(1) OJ L 119, 20.5.2000, p. 9.
(2) OJ L 201, 31.7.1999, p. 30.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

The Honourable Member refers in his question to the suspension of the issue of refund certificates for non-
Annex 1 processed agricultural products as from 8 May 2000 (Regulation (EC) No 1066/2000).

The GATT limit on the EU for the 1999-2000 financial year is € 475 million, plus amounts not used in
previous years. By way of information, the budgetary authority has set the 1999-2000 budget for non-
Annex 1 refunds at € 551 million.

First of all, it should be pointed out that the system of certificates was only introduced as from 1 February.
As a result, the current financial year is of a transitional nature because refunds granted before that date
have to be added to the certificates issued. It should be noted that the total value of the refund certificates
issued in the three months since 1 February 2000 was over € 310 million. On account of the large volume
of exports (the total amount of refunds paid prior to 1 March 2000 was € 229 million) and the substantial
sums involved in the certificates requested during the first week of May, the Commission felt that it should
exercise caution in running the certificates system, bearing in mind the EU(cid:146)s international commitments
and the possibility that these could be jeopardised.

In taking this decision, the Commission was applying paragraph 8 of Article 6B of Regulation (EC)
(cid:145)insofar as the Commission considers that compliance with the
No 1222/94, which stipulates that
international commitments of
it may apply a reduction
coefficient to applications for certificates currently under examination, taking account, inter alia, of the
method of calculation referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4. It may also suspend the issuing of certificates(cid:146).

the European Union may be jeopardised,

The Commission is aware of the impact which the suspension of the issue of certificates has on the food-
processing industry. It is continuing to monitor both the market situation and payments made by the
Member States, and will not fail to take appropriate measures, including a resumption in the issue of
certificates.

(2001/C 81 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2257/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Transport of live farm animals

long journeys often result

Experience shows that
in significant welfare problems for farm animals.
Moreover, scientific research indicates that long journeys should be avoided. A majority paper on sheep
transport by scientists from Bristol University concluded that (cid:145)from a welfare point of view, transport
distances and times should be kept to the minimum(cid:146). The Scientific Veterinary Committee (SVC) has
concluded that (cid:145)it would be best for the welfare of slaughter pigs for transport to be as short as possible(cid:146).

C 81 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Moreover, as long ago as 1992, the SVC stressed that (cid:145)the occurrence of poor welfare can be reduced
considerably by slaughtering near the point of rearing and transporting meat(cid:146).

Does the Commission accept that many of the welfare problems associated with long-distance transport
could be avoided by the adoption of a major change of policy, whereby the long-distance transport of live
farm animals was, wherever practicable, abandoned and replaced by a meat trade?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2000)

Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and
amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (1), as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of
29 June 1995 (2) sets out the requirements concerning travelling time, resting periods,
feeding and
watering of the animals during transport.

Community legislation is drawn up on the basis of the results of scientific research and practical
knowledge, both elements of which indicate that animal transport is actually acceptable on welfare
grounds if specific animal protection conditions are adhered to.

In accordance with Article 13 of Directive 91/628/EEC, the Commission intends to submit a report to the
Council on the experience acquired by Member States derived from the application of Community
legislation in this field. The report will also be presented to the Parliament.

In the compilation of the report the Commission has identified several areas of difficulty for enforcement
of current law. Long-term initiatives as well as technical solutions are currently being examined.

Following the presentation of the report the Commission will submit specific proposals to address these
difficulties.

As soon as possible several fundamental aspects of the Directive should be evaluated on a scientific basis
and notably data concerning travelling times, stress related to loading and unloading operations and
loading densities. In this framework, measures to encourage the slaughter of animals closer to the places
where they are raised also merit examination.

The Commission intends to explore in the near future those and any other possibilities for improvement
with experts from the Member States and sectors concerned.

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

(2001/C 81 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2258/00

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Revision of Article 296

In the light of paragraph 23 of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 15 June 2000
(LalumiŁre report), does the Commission now intend to propose to the IGC that Article 296 should be
revised in the Treaty of Nice and made more (cid:145)flexible(cid:146) so as to create the conditions for a single market in
defence equipment?