WRITTEN QUESTION E-1602/01 by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Commission Decision of 29 June 2000.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: application of EU law, protection of animals, research project, slaughter of animals, veterinary inspection, veterinary legislation

C 364 E/158

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1602/01

by Raina Echerer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Commission Decision of 29 June 2000

(1 June 2001)

Recital 9 of Commission Decision 2000/418/EC (1) of 29 June 2000 regulating the use of material
presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and amending Decision 94/
474/EC (2) prohibits the stunning of animals by gas injection and the production of brain death by the
laceration of central nervous tissue ((cid:146)pithing(cid:146)) in view of the contagious nature of BSE.

Council Directive 93/119/EC (3) of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of
slaughter or killing defines the term (cid:145)stunning(cid:146) as follows: (cid:145)any process which, when applied to an animal,
causes immediate loss of consciousness which lasts until death(cid:146).

Would the Commission clarify the following points:

1.

In practice, Council Directive 93/119/EC is often implemented in an unsatisfactory manner. For
example, the bolt apparatus generally used to stun animals is often not adequately maintained or not
used properly, with the result that its effect is not strong enough to stun the animal before slaughter
as required by the directive. This deplorable fact was, however, masked up to 1 January 2001 by the
practice of (cid:145)pithing(cid:146). The Commission(cid:146)s Decision of 29 June 2000 has brought it into the open (see
http://www.tierschutz.cc on conditions in Austrian abattoirs). How will the Commission ensure that
application of the decision does not lead to infringement of the directive? Are any additional controls
planned? What provision has been made for accompanying measures?

2.

Is the Commission aware of instances in the other Member States in which animals have been
slaughtered without having been stunned in accordance with the provisions of the Directive?

3.

Is the Commission supporting any research into acceptable methods of stunning animals?

(1) OJ L 158, 30.6.2000, p. 76.
(2) OJ L 194, 29.7.1994, p. 96.
(3) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The purpose of pithing was to stop post-stunning convulsions in the animal concerned and it was used in
order to ensure the safety of the operator. Pithing ensured that no animal would recover from the effect of
the captive bolt. However the use of pithing was limited particularly because of fears over dissemination of
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agents and also because of improved stunning techniques.

The Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission (FVO) carries out regular inspections of slaughter-
houses in the Member States. These inspections include checking that stunning procedures are applied in
compliance with the provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993, on the protection
of animals at the time of slaughter or killing.

From the recent inspections carried out by the FVO, there was evidence of problems concerning stunning
practices in two Member States. At present one Member State is the object of an infringement procedure
in relation to its failure to enforce some provisions of Directive 93/119/EC. However the deficiencies
related to stunning were observed before Commission Decision 2000/418/EC of 29 June 2000 regulating
the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and amending
Decision 94/474/EC entered into force.

The Commission does not presently provide financial support for any particular research project on
acceptable methods of stunning. The Scientific Steering Committee is currently addressing the question of
penetrative stunning methods.