WRITTEN QUESTION E-0310/03 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Animal protection and the humane treatment of animals.
Date: 2003-02-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, animal welfare, application of EU law, livestock farming, protection of animals, transport of animals, veterinary inspection, veterinary legislation

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/181

Authorisation of the use of plant protection products is governed by Council Directive 91/414/EEC
4.
of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (5) and is a specific
responsibility of the Member States. When granting authorisations Member States have to ensure that the
safety requirements of the Directive are met and that the risk management restrictions imposed for active
substances in Annex I to the Directive are adhered to. The Commission has recently set up with the
Member States a Working Group on Herbicide Tolerant Plants and one of its functions is to look at the
possible impact of genetically modified plants on herbicide use.

No. An aid scheme for purchase of denatured sugar was in force from 1968 to 1974. After several
5.
adjustments aid for the sector (purchase of sugar included) was discontinued in 1983 mainly because of
high administrative costs given the sector’s structure: a very large number of highly dispersed recipients,
the majority not being full-time farmers. It is for the same reason that the Commission is not planning to
propose any new direct aids for beekeeping.

(1) OJ L 173, 1.7.1997.
(2) Directive 2001/82/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating

to veterinary medicinal products (cid:1) OJ L 311, 28.11.2001.

(3) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment
of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin (cid:1) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.
(4) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93 of 22 July 1993 laying down Community procedures for the authorization
and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Agency for the
Evaluation of Medicinal Products (cid:1) OJ L 214, 24.8.1993.

(5) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.

(2003/C 222 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0310/03

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Animal protection and the humane treatment of animals

Cases have been reported of animals being inhumanely treated in Greece, an EU Member State: for no
obvious reason, cows and other farm animals are apparently being kept in pastures with two of their legs
bound together.

The amendment to item 8 of the Annex to Directive 91/629/EEC (1) under which calves may not be
tethered, applies only to calves kept in livestock buildings. Do any legal provisions exist on this matter
covering farm animals in pastures? If so, do they provide for any arrangements allowing animals,
particularly in warm southern regions, to protect themselves from the sun? Do any rules exist to ensure
that animals are supplied with water?

Will the Commission also say whether the provisions governing the transportation of farm animals, in
particular vertebrate animals, are being respected? Scientific studies show that animals suffer particularly
high levels at stress during loading and unloading. Are Community criteria governing staging points in
Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 (2) of 25 June 1997 concerning Community criteria for
staging points and amending the route plan referred to in the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC (3) being
respected? To what extent are the reports submitted to the Commission by Greece, an EU Member State,
on the humane treatment of farm animals satisfactory?

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 28.
(2) OJ L 174, 2.7.1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

C 222 E/182

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

At Community level there is no specific legislation in place for the protection of cows. However, they are
covered by Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for
farming purposes (1). Article 3 of that Directive provides that:
‘Member States shall make provision to
ensure that the owners or keepers take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their
care and ensure that these animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury’. Number 7 of
the Annex to the Directive stipulates that ‘the freedom of movement of an animal, having regard to its
species and in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge, must not be restricted in
such a way as to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury’ and that ‘where an animal is continuously or
regularly tethered or confined, it must be given the space appropriate to its physiological and ethnological
needs in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge’. Furthermore, the Directive
requires that ‘animals not kept in buildings shall where necessary and possible be given protection from
adverse weather conditions […]’ (number 12 of the Annex) and that ‘all animals must have access to a
suitable water supply or be able to satisfy their fluid intake needs by other means.’ (number 16 of the
Annex).

Moreover, the Community and its Member States are contracting parties of the Council of Europe’s
Convention for
this Convention a
Recommendation concerning cattle has been adopted.

the Protection of animals kept

farming purposes. Under

for

At the Agriculture Council meeting of January 2001 the Commission presented a report on the experience
acquired by Member States with the application of Directive 91/628/EEC (2) on animal transport. This
document has also been submitted to the Parliament. The report
identifies major shortcomings in
enforcement of the legislation by national authorities. The Commission concludes that improvements both
in the legislation and in its enforcement by Member States are necessary.

Furthermore, the Food and Veterinary Office carries out regularly inspections on the application of the
Community animal welfare legislation. The results of these missions are publicly available on the Internet.
Regrettably these reports continue to indicate in respect of Greece deficiencies in applying and enforcing
Community legislation in this domain.

Greece has not fully complied with its reporting obligations concerning the inspections carried out to
check compliance with the provisions of Directive 98/58 for the 2000-2001 period as provided by
Commission Decision 2000/50/EC of 17 December 1999, concerning the minimum requirements for the
inspection of holdings on which animals are kept for farming purposes (3). The Commission has reminded
Greece of its obligation in this regard and if necessary will consider initiating infringement proceedings in
accordance with Article 226 of the EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.
(3) OJ L 19, 25.1.2000, p. 51.

(2003/C 222 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0317/03

by Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco (PSE) to the Council

(10 February 2003)

Subject: Cooperation with Brazil

Bearing in mind that 50 million Brazilians live in poverty and given that President Da Silva is to make
social development the top priority of his term in office with a view to eradicating the hunger which
afflicts a large proportion of the population, do relations with Brazil number among the Council’s
priorities?