WRITTEN QUESTION E-1373/03 by James Provan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Movement of animals for zoological gardens.
Date: 2003-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, health certificate, intra-EU trade, protection of animals, transport of animals, zoo

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/193

As regards participation at the next meeting of the Bilderberg group, which is due to take place from 16 to
18 May 2003 in Versailles, three Commissioners have accepted the invitation that has been extended to
them on account of their functions, although they will not be participating on behalf of the Commission.
The three in question are Mr Monti, Mr Bolkestein and Mr Lamy. Their trip will be governed by the rules
generally applicable in this matter.

As regards the Trilateral Commission, its rules preclude the participation of any member who holds public
office. No Commissioner is therefore a member of the Trilateral, and no Commissioner has as yet voiced
any intention of participating in a future meeting of the Trilateral Commission.

(2003/C 268 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1371/03

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Introduction of the European health insurance card from 1 July 2004

Some Member States have had the negative experience of the misuse of cards of this type. I know this to
be the case at least in Germany, where it is estimated that illegal electronic chip cards have been used to
defraud health insurance funds of around EUR 1 000 million (Bayernkurier, 13 March 2003).

What precautions has the Commission taken to protect the European health insurance card from forgery
and to prevent its abuse when used in another Member State?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2003)

On 20 March 2003 the Brussels European Council asked for the European card to be introduced by the
summer of 2004. Initially, this card will replace the E111 form (certificate of rights to health care during a
tourist visit to another Member State). Given the diversity of national situations concerning the use of
health insurance cards, a single model will be used whose format will make it possible to read with the
naked eye the essential data for the provision of care and for reimbursement between institutions.

This standardisation should help to avoid the common errors with the current forms and to make it
possible for the authorities of the states issuing the card and of the states of temporary residence to
prevent improper, unlawful or fraudulent use of the card. In particular, the logical number mentioned on
the card will make it possible to check that the information on the card and the information in the
possession of the competent health care institution for the same number tallies. Above all, these measures
will make it possible to prepare the final phase, namely the transition to an electronic European card,
which will provide greater protection against fraud. Effective cooperation between Member States, and
especially between the competent institutions, should thus make it possible to reduce the risk of fraud or
unlawful use.

(2003/C 268 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1373/03

by James Provan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Movement of animals for zoological gardens

EU-Member States (and candidate Member States) require different tests when receiving animals for
zoological gardens from another country. If the UK is involved the requirements even differ depending on
whether the animals travel by sea or air.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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7.11.2003

Does the Commission know that there is inconsistency across European countries on health requirements
regarding the movement of animals for zoological gardens?

Is the Commission aware that the inconsistency hinders the trade and is not in the interest of the welfare
of the animals?

Is the Commission prepared to look into this unsatisfactory situation?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2003)

The legislative framework governing the animal health requirements for the importation of animals not
specifically covered in Community rules is Council Directive 92/65/EEC (1), the so called ‘Balai Directive’.
This legislation sets out the conditions under which rare and exotic species that typically form the majority
of animals in zoological gardens can enter the Community and outlines the conditions under which such
animals can be traded between Member States.

The underlying principle of the Directive for both intra-community trade and imports from third countries
is to ensure that animals can move as freely as possible, but without compromising the existing health
status of either the importing premises, like zoological gardens, or the Union as a whole. It is important
that such premises maintain stringent animal health requirements in order to protect their existing
populations, many of which are very valuable. Broadly, this can be achieved by either verifying that the
point of origin for an animal prior to receipt has an equivalent health status, or by performing diagnostic
testing to ensure that animals are free from disease.

With regard to intra-community trade, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1282/2002 of 15 July 2002
amending Annexes to Council Directive 92/65/EEC (2), which entered into force on 1 March 2003, amends
Directive 92/65/EEC and clarifies the procedure for the trade between ‘approved bodies,
institutes or
centres’ for animals not already subject to specific Community rules. Such establishments are defined
within Directive 92/65/EEC and zoological gardens fall under the scope of that definition. In order to be
approved, they must adopt stringent animal health practices. These are set out in the Regulation, and
include disease surveillance to ensure that the health status of the establishment remains consistently high.
This surveillance includes the use of testing, which should be carried out with appropriate consideration
for the animals within an overall disease surveillance framework, and not on an ad hoc basis.

The terms under which animals can be traded between approved bodies, institutes or centres are clearly
laid out in the Regulation. The Regulation also sets out a revised model certificate for the specific purpose
of trade in such animals between these approved establishments. Official veterinarians are required to
complete the certificate to attest that the accompanying animal fulfils the requirements of the Directive,
i.e. they originate from a place with an equivalent health status. The recognition of equivalence essentially
removes the need to perform unnecessary diagnostic tests on animals prior to movement. Hence in regard
to intra-community trade in such animals between approved establishments, the rules now in place will
remove much of the former inconsistency.

The new Regulation also provides for a quarantine procedure for approved establishments to allow them
to trade in animals originating from non-approved establishments within the Member States. This
stipulates that a quarantine period of at least 30 days must be observed.

With regard to the trade in rare and exotic animals from third countries, the framework provisions for
such imports are set out in Directive 92/65/EC. These are important in ensuring that the introduction of
such animals does not compromise the animal health status of the Member States. Diagnostic testing is an
important element to ensure that imported animals are free from disease before they enter the Union.

However, the Commission is aware that the specific animal health requirements and certification for the
import of zoo animals are not currently fully harmonised. This issue is not easy to resolve given the range
of species that would fall within the scope of such a Directive, and taking into account the various testing

7.11.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/195

it is important that the current
requirements and welfare considerations for each species. However,
ambiguity is removed and it is for this reason that the Commission is currently working on specific
proposals regarding the procedures, testing requirements and certification for the importation of rare and
exotic species, including zoo animals, from third countries. It is therefore the Commission’s expectation
that harmonised rules governing such imports will be in place in the near future.

(1) Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and
imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid
down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC, OJ L 268, 14.9.1992.

(2) OJ L 187, 16.7.2002.

(2003/C 268 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1389/03

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Bugging

Two weeks ago it was revealed that bugging devices had been found in the Justus Lipsius building. It is not
known by whom and when the devices were installed. It is possible that this was already done when the
building was being constructed. The situation is very worrying and could seriously damage the economic
and political interests of the Union. The bugging devices only came to light at the Council because a new
security unit had recently been set up which has very sophisticated electronic equipment.

1.

2.

Does the Commission know about this situation?

Does the Commission think that such devices could also be found in its own buildings?

3.
Does the Commission have equipment for detecting bugging devices of this kind, bearing in mind
that confidential information could also be listened in to at the Commission, which could seriously damage
the economic and political interests of the Union? What specific measures does the Commission plan to
take to prevent bugging of its buildings, and when?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2003)

Yes, the Commission security service was briefed about the situation in the Council and its services
1.
co-operated with those of the Council
investigation. The Honourable Member will
understand that no more details can be given because this question is currently undergoing judicial
proceedings.

in the technical

Comprehensive and perfect protection against eavesdropping appears to be technically impossible for

2.
any administration of the size and transparency of the Commission.

However, efforts to ensure an acceptable degree of protection are sustained, and the Commission’s
approach to safeguarding the confidentiality of sensitive information. includes:

(a) making Commission staff aware of the risks from eavesdropping and unauthorised access to sensitive

documents;

(b)

identifying the information which requires protection and classifying it accordingly; and

(c) preventing the communication of such information in insecure environments and through insecure

communication channels.

3.
The Commission has equipment to detect listening devices and part of this equipment was made
available to the Security service of the Council to assist them in undertaking the investigation mentioned in
reply to question 1.