WRITTEN QUESTION E-1291/01 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transport of live animals ‐ lack of enforcement.
Date: 2001-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, application of EU law, protection of animals, technical standard, transport of animals, vehicle, veterinary legislation

C 350 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Now that the Eid-el-Kabir 2001 is over, the Commission will assess the improvements actually made on
the basis of a report requested from the French authorities.

Should adequate progress not be maintained, the Commission will consider opening an Article 226 (ex
Article 169) of the EC Treaty infringement procedure.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.

(2001/C 350 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1289/01

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Transport of live animals (cid:129) live animal transport ban

(3 May 2001)

In 1992, the Commission(cid:146)s Scientific Veterinary Committee (SVC) stressed that live transport (cid:145)should be
avoided whenever possible(cid:146). Despite this, huge numbers of animals are transported across Europe on
extremely long journeys during which they often suffer greatly. Much of this suffering could be avoided if
animals were slaughtered as near as possible to the farm of rearing and meat transported instead. Would
the Commission propose an end to the live transport of animals over long distances in favour of a more
regionalised meat trade? If not, what reasonable justifications can you give for not doing so?

(2001/C 350 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1291/01

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Transport of live animals (cid:129) lack of enforcement

(3 May 2001)

A briefing by Compassion in World Farming in the European Parliament demonstrated the complete
failure of the EU Transport Directive to protect animals during long journeys. Reports published by the
European Commission have revealed breaches of the Directive in Italy, France, Greece, Belgium and
Ireland.

What will the Commission do to enforce existing laws regarding:

(cid:129) the brutal handling of animals en route?

(cid:129) the transportation of injured and sick animals?

(cid:129) a mandatory twenty-four hour rest period as required by the Directive?

(cid:129) overcrowding and inadequate ventilation?

(cid:129) the use of low standard vehicles?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1289/01 and E-1291/01
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

The necessity to limit the long distance transport of animals to absolutely essential journeys and to keep
any suffering to a minimum are especially important objectives for the Commission.

The Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Belgium, Greece and Spain in relation to
their failure to implement Community legislation in this field. The opening of infringement proceedings
against other Member States in relation to animal transport is also under consideration.

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/111

At the Agriculture Council meeting of January 2001 the Commission presented a report on the experience
acquired by Member States since the implementation of 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 (2). This report has also been submitted to the Parliament. The Commission report
concludes that Member States have had clear difficulties in fully applying Community legislation in this
field. The report also suggests that measures to encourage the slaughter of animals closer to the places
where they are raised also merits examination.

The Commission believes that stricter rules are essential to improve the current situation and has already
taken initiatives in this direction.

To prevent the transport of injured or sick animals, the Commission adopted Decision 2001/298/EC of
30 March 2001 amending the Annexes to Council Directives 64/432/EEC, 90/426/EEC, 91/68/EEC and
92/65/EEC and to Commission Decision 94/273/EC as regards the protection of animals during
transport (3) to amend veterinary certificates for intra-Community trade of livestock in order to refer to
the fitness of the animals to be transported. This measure will enter into force from 1 August 2001.

To improve the standards of the vehicles, the Commission adopted on 9 April 2001 a proposal for
a Council Regulation concerning ventilation systems of road vehicles used for journeys exceeding eight
hours (4), including requirements for a minimum ventilation rate and mandatory systems for monitoring
the temperature inside the lorries.

An additional proposal amending Council Directive 91/628/EEC, will also be presented with the aim of
improving the situation, in particular regarding the level of enforcement.

Furthermore, following the outcome of a new opinion of the Scientific Committee on Animal Welfare,
expected for the end of 2001, a redefinition of travelling times and loading densities may be proposed,
taking into account new scientific evidence.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.
(2) COM(2000) 809 final.
(3) OJ L 102, 12.4.2001.
(4) COM(2001) 197 final.

(2001/C 350 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1290/01

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Transport of live animals (cid:129) exports to third countries

(3 May 2001)

Hundreds of thousands of live cattle are exported from the EU to the Middle East and North Africa each
year in appalling conditions.

They are loaded onto overcrowded vehicles, often beaten with sticks during the process, and then sent by
road to southern European ports from where they are shipped to the Middle East.

On arrival, they are driven to the slaughterhouses, often in temperatures exceeding 40 (cid:176)C, during which
time they suffer stress, dehydration, and in many cases, death. Once in the abattoir the cattle are ritually
slaughtered. Their throats are cut without pre-stunning and while they are fully conscious, and it often
takes them several minutes to die.

This trade is subsidised by the EU taxpayer through export refunds, to get surplus cattle out of the EU.
Will the Commission now end the payment of export refunds on the export of live cattle to third
countries, to discourage this cruel trade which simply serves to give livestock farming a bad name?