WRITTEN QUESTION E-3591/00 by Linda McAvan (PSE) to the Commission. Welfare of poultry for slaughter in Spain.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, animal welfare, poultry, protection of animals, report, slaughter of animals

C 163 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

If amendments were required because the report on the application revealed that, even after harmonisa-
tion, obstacles to the internal market would continue or in view of developments in information
technology and the state of progress of information society, these would be announced in the context of
the report.

(2001/C 163 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3586/00

by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Replacement afforestation under LIFE projects

inadequate maintenance. The fact

Bogs, marsh areas, dry grasslands and sandy grasslands are among the most endangered habitats in our
rural landscape. They are the last refuges of many endangered species of plants and animals. The extent of
these habitats has decreased dramatically in recent decades because of increasingly intensive land use, but
tree cover (Austrian Forestry Law,
also because of
section 4(1))
leads to
considerable conflict with nature conservation interests. For example, if woody plants start encroaching on
bogs, marsh areas, dry grasslands and sandy grasslands and reach this extent of cover, they can be removed
only when an appropriate clearance authorisation has been obtained, i.e. replacement afforestation could
be required. As nature conservation has no equivalent legal instruments at its disposal there is a constant
decline in these habitats.

is to be treated legally as woodland once cover extends to 50 % of the area,

that natural

Under a LIFE nature project of the office of the Lower Austria regional government, with 60 % EU
financing, sandy habitats are to be enhanced. To enable particularly valuable habitats to be permanently
returned to sandy grassland small-scale clearances (about 10-12 hectares) are planned in various locations
under this project.

Can replacement afforestation required by the authorities be co-financed under LIFE projects via the rural
development programme (Regulation (EC) 1257/1999) (1)?

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

Article 38.1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999, on support for rural development
from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain
Regulations lays dow that (cid:145)payments may not be made in respect of the same measure under both this
Regulation and another Community support scheme(cid:146).

(cid:145)Substitution afforestation(cid:146) is a legal obligation deriving directly from the conservation measure supported
by the Life-Programme,
it is not possible to cofinance this action by the Austrian rural development
programme.

(2001/C 163 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3591/00

by Linda McAvan (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Welfare of poultry for slaughter in Spain

The Commission has published a report of a mission carried out by it Food and Veterinary Office in Spain
from 18 to 29 October 1999 concerning the production of poultrymeat (DG (SANCO) 1213/1999-MR
Final). Paragraph 3.9.3 of the report reveals that bad stunning procedures were procedures were observed

6.6.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/173

in several establishments: in particular premature electric shocks and failure to reach the recommended
amperage. In addition, there appears to be little or no monitoring of poultry welfare during transport or at
the time of arrival at the slaughterhouse.

What steps is the Commission taking to require the Spanish authorities to ensure that stunning is carried
the
out properly and that
slaughterhouse?

the welfare of poultry is supervised during transport and on arrival at

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2001)

As indicated by the Honourable Member, the findings and conclusions of the poultry meat production
mission report to Spain (No 1213-1999) performed in October 1999 showed some shortcomings in the
Spanish official control system as regards poultry welfare Community legislation. In this report, recom-
mendations were made to the Spanish competent authority in order to improve the situation, but the
Commission did not receive any information on corrective actions taken from the Spanish authority within
the requested deadlines.

In order to assess any progress made in Spain following the 1999 mission, a follow-up mission was
performed by the Commission(cid:146)s Food and Veterinary Office from the 2-6 October 2000. A draft report is
being sent to the Spanish competent authority for comments. Once any comments have been received, the
report will be finalised and, together with these comments, sent to the Parliament and published on
the Internet. The Honourable Member will therefore be able to judge whether any improvement in this
particular field was recorded. The Commission will consider whether further action is necessary on
this matter in the light of the final report.

(2001/C 163 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3596/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Reform of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Emcdda)

The Emcdda was the subject of an external assessment early in 2000. As a result of the assessment the
Centre embarked on and adopted a radical reform of its objectives and working methods. The reform was
recently presented to the Committee on Citizens(cid:146) Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, which
gave it a favourable reception.

Can the Commission specify what initiatives it expects to take, particularly in the light of the EU(cid:146)s anti-
drugs campaign, which gives the Centre more extensive duties and a heightened role,
to support
implementation of the Centre(cid:146)s reform in terms of organisation and resources? Can it say how it intends
to structure its cooperation with the agency in years to come, avoiding duplication of effort, making use of
relevant Community programmes and machinery and taking full advantage of the Centre(cid:146)s working
capacity and products?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2001)

The external assessment report on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
(Emcdda) concluded that the Centre should refocus its efforts on its priority tasks and place the emphasis
on quality rather than quantity.

The guidelines for the reform of the Centre were approved by its Management Board but they have still to
be put into practice. The Director of the Centre is to present proposals for implementing the reform.