WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/01 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Transport of animals by sea.
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, animal welfare, maritime transport, protection of animals, transport of animals, transport regulations

C 364 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2001)

The Commission would like to offer the following answer in response to the honourable Member(cid:146)s
question:

(cid:129) On the basis of the information that the Commission has at the moment, the Swedish legislation to
which the honourable Member refers does not apparently impose discrimination based on the
possession of a personal identity number. It seems that this discrimination stems from the decision of
the Swedish supermarket chain, which thus has no valid justification in referring to Swedish
legislation. As for the fourth part of the question, the Commission has no information regarding
similar practices by other supermarkets in Sweden.

(cid:129) However, in order to obtain fuller and more accurate information, the Commission has sent a letter to

the supermarket chain and to the Swedish authorities requesting further details.

(cid:129) As soon as the Commission has this information, it will provide the honourable Member with results

of its investigation as quickly as possible.

(2001/C 364 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/01

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Transport of animals by sea

According to a report from a Dutch national sailing as a passenger on a cargo boat, large numbers of
animals are being transported by sea from the United Kingdom and Ireland, frequently in closed containers
with wire mesh on one side only, in pitiable conditions.

Can the European Commission indicate the extent of such transport and the European Union legislation
which is applicable to the transport of animals by sea?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Transport by sea is mainly used by the United Kingdom to export sheep to the continent. Export of live
cattle from the United Kingdom has been forbidden since 1996 because of Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy. Exports of live sheep are now also banned because of foot-and-mouth disease.

Transport by sea is largely used by Ireland to export cattle to other Member States and third countries.
However it should be mentioned that Ireland has adopted specific rules for the transport of animals by
sea that go further than Community legislation in this field.

Transport by sea is also used regularly to export cattle to some third countries (mainly Middle East and
North Africa).

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), lays down Community standards for the protection of animals during transport. General
principles of the Directive as well as special provisions of that same Directive apply to the transport of
animals by sea.

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