WRITTEN QUESTION E-3050/00 by Jean-Claude Martinez (TDI) to the Commission. Elephant hunting in Africa.
Date: 2000-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, hunting, import restriction, marketing restriction, material of animal origin, protected species, protection of animal life, tourism, wild mammal

C 136 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2000)

The Member States bear the primary responsibility for the enforcement of Community legislation on a
day-to day basis, whilst the Commission in turn has a duty to ensure that all Community legislation is
properly enforced by the Member States.

In this regard, the Commission has already received information concerning serious problems regarding
the enforcement of Community legislation on the protection of animals during transport at the port of
Brindisi in Italy. In particular, reports sent to the Commission by the Italian authorities in relation to
breaches of Council Directive 91/628/EC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during
transport corroborate to some extent the observations made by the animal protection organizations that
the Honourable Member has mentioned.

At the beginning of August 2000 the Commission formally requested several Member States to investigate
the matter urgently and, in particular, to take the necessary actions in relation to the use of inappropriate
vehicles.

The inspectors of the Commissions(cid:146) food and veterinary office will carry out further inspections in Gorizia,
Bari and Brindisi in November in connection with this matter.

It should be mentioned that infringement proceedings have also been opened against some Member States
in relation to the failure to implement Community legislation in relation to the protection of animals
during transport.

Concerning further initiatives,
in accordance with Article 13 of Directive 91/628/EC, as amended by
Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 (1), the Commission will submit to the Council, as soon as
possible, a report on the implementation in the Member States of Community legislation in this field. The
report will also be presented to the Parliament.

Following the conclusion of this report the Commission intends to present proposals to improve the
transport of animals, and problems related to insufficient enforcement of the provisions mentioned by the
Honourable Member will be considered.

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(2001/C 136 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3050/00

by Jean-Claude Martinez (TDI) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Elephant hunting in Africa

The cruel and senseless practice of elephant hunting is still going on, unfortunately against a background
of widespread indifference.

Given that the massacre of these mammals, one of the symbol(cid:146)s of our planet, is prompted by financial
motives connected to the trade in ivory tusks, what steps will the Commission take to introduce a total
Community-wide ban on this vile trade?

Will the Commission introduce a system of fines for states which continue to allow hunting of this kind
within their territory, reminiscent as it is of the archaic and barbaric practices of former times?

it take measures against travel agencies and other organisations which organise these large-scale

Will
massacres under the guise of safaris or big-game hunting?

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/171

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

(25 October 2000)

Under 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), which implements the Convention on international trade in
endangered species of wild fauna and flora in the Community, commercial trade in ivory is not allowed.

The Commission as well as the Member States are continuously committed to the conservation of the
African elephant and are well aware of the sensitivity of the issues related thereto.

However, import of hunting trophies is allowed from some African countries where it has been established
that this limited hunting is not detrimental to the populations concerned and export quotas have been
adopted. The return from sport hunting is generally large, a part of which,
in most of the countries
concerned, is required by law to go back to local communities and conservation authorities which are
committed to the conservation of the elephant.

Taking account of the above considerations, the Commission does not intend to stop the import of
hunting trophies, accompanied by proper export and import documents, from African countries where the
above conditions are in place.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2001/C 136 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(28 September 2000)

Subject: Classification of toluene

Toluene is a solvent currently indispensable for publication printing. However,
is shortly to be
reclassified under EU law as (cid:145)a risk phrase R61(cid:146), which would have the effect of ranking toluene as a
poison. This would make it impossible for companies to print with toluene and endanger the jobs of a
significant number of employees.

it

However, scientific studies have questioned the dangers of toluene.

The German MAK Commission has carried out a very intensive investigation into toluene and, as a result,
has downgraded toluene from the more dangerous Group (cid:145)B(cid:146) to the less dangerous Group (cid:145)C(cid:146). Other studies
have concluded that there is currently not enough information on toluene on which to base a firm oinion.

Could the Commission indicate whether or not it has commissioned scientific studies on toluene and/or
the information on which the Commission based its decision to rank toluene as a poison?

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

(6 November 2000)

The Commission has not yet taken a decision on whether toluene should be classified as toxic to
reproduction nor has it commissioned a scientific study on this substance. However, toluene is currently
undergoing risk assessment as foreseen under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993, on
the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances (1), including consideration of its intrinsic
hazards. All relevant scientific studies are being considered as part of the hazard and risk assessments.
the rapporteur for this substance, has recently submitted a draft risk assessment report.
Denmark,
Commission working groups composed of experts from the Member States are currently discussing this
report.

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.