2008/466/EC: Commission Decision of 19 June 2008 concerning the financial contribution by the Community, for the year 2008, towards pilot projects and preparatory actions in the field of animal welfare
Date: 2008-06-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Member States' contribution, animal production, animal welfare, protection of animals, transport of animals

20.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 161/41

COMMISSION DECISION

of 19 June 2008

concerning the financial contribution by the Community, for the year 2008, towards pilot projects
and preparatory actions in the field of animal welfare

(2008/466/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

porters as control posts are missing in certain locations
and a number of existing control posts are of poor
quality standards despite official controls.

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation
applicable to the general budget of
the European Commu-
nities (1), and in particular Article 49(6), points (a) and (b)
thereof,

for

Having regard to Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of
the Commission of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed
the implementation of Council Regulation (EC,
rules
Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable
to the general budget of the European Communities (2), and in
particular Article 90 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

This Decision constitutes a financing decision within the
meaning of Article 75 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 and of Article 90 of Regulation (EC,
Euratom) No 2342/2002.

The Community Action Plan on the Protection and
Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 identifies as one area
of action the upgrading existing minimum standards
for animal protection and welfare in line with new
scientific evidence and socioeconomic assessments as
well as securing efficient enforcement (3).

The European Parliament allocated EUR 4 million in the
2008 Community budget
to a preparatory action on
control posts (resting points). The present network of
control posts does not meet the actual needs of trans-

(1) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-

lation (EC) No 1525/2007 (OJ L 343, 27.12.2007, p. 9).

(2) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu-
lation (EC, Euratom) No 478/2007 (OJ L 111, 28.4.2007, p. 13).

(3) http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/com_action_

plan230106_en.pdf

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

strategies

There is a need to determine,
through stakeholders
consultation and technical expertise, quality criteria for
control posts as defined in the Community legislation
and which
be
developed to improve their use by transporters. A
preparatory action including the building or renovating
of high standard control posts in at least three Member
States which have significant
traffic flows of animals
should be launched.

European wide

should

The European Parliament allocated EUR 1 million in the
2008 Community budget to launch a pilot project in
order to develop improved animal production methods
and to focus on alternatives to the castration of pigs and
alternatives to the dehorning of cattle.

practical

developing

establishing

this pilot project

by
European

Concerning pig castration,
should
complement ongoing research on castration and focus
a
consequences
its
on
programme
harmonised
a
method to detect boar taint at the slaughter line under
commercial conditions and to assess the commercial
aspects of marketing meat from non-castrated animals.
encourage
The development of
farmers
and establish
reliable and consistent data for further development of
different alternatives to surgical castration (immunocas-
in particular). A second part of the study will
tration,
look in depth into alternatives to the dehorning of cattle.

to raise uncastrated animals

such methods will

One project is foreseen to perform the preparatory action
and one action for the pilot project. The financing of
these actions should be subject to a single decision.

These actions are to form part of the further develop-
ment of Community animal welfare legislation and will
also support the actions identified in the Community
Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals
2006-2010 (4),

(4) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament
and the Council on a Community Action Plan on the Protection and
Welfare of Animals 2006-2010, COM(2006) 13 final.

L 161/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.6.2008

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The preparatory action referred to in the Annex are approved and shall be financed through the budget line
17 04 03 03 of the budget of the European Communities for 2008 up to a maximum of EUR 4 000 000.

Article 1

The pilot project referred to in the Annex is approved and shall be financed through the budget line
17 01 04 06 of the budget of the European Communities for 2008 up to a maximum of EUR 1 000 000.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 19 June 2008.

For the Commission

Androulla VASSILIOU
Member of the Commission

20.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 161/43

Domain: Food safety, animal health and welfare and zootechnics

ANNEX

I. Preparatory Action under budget line 17 04 03 03

Legal basis: Article 49(6) point (b) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002

1. Criteria for applicants

Applications will be restricted to the following target organisations: consortium of partners covering at least:

— one competent authority of a Member State of the EU in charge of the approval of control posts according to

Regulation (EC) No 1255/1997,

— one research group specialised at least on applied farm animal welfare sciences, and

— one NGO internationally active for animal welfare in at least the EU.

2. Selection criteria

— Financial capacity of the applicant

Applicants must show that they have the financial capacity to carry out the operation to be financed.

Applicants must provide evidence of availability of the own resources needed, to complement the co-financing
of the Community required.

— Technical and professional capacity of the applicant

Applicants must have the technical capacity and the professional capability to carry out the action to be
financed. They must provide evidence of their knowledge and experience in the field of animal related
infrastructure and animal transport operations. They should provide certification and descriptions of projects
and activities undertaken in the last three years and more particularly of projects related to the relevant issue.
They must provide detailed curriculum vitae of each member of the team and demonstrate the managerial
capabilities of the project director and manager, including his or her educational background, degrees and
diplomas, professional experience, research work and publications.

Applicants must demonstrate that national competent authorities in the Member States and organisations
applying for the action are committed to the objectives of the project and to support the principle of
introducing a certification scheme for control posts which is to be implemented by the action. They must
provide evidence of the contacts and international stakeholders that they intend to consult, in particular as
regards certification, and whose resources they intend to draw upon in the course of the execution of the
preparatory action.

3. Award criteria

The following general award criteria shall apply:

— soundness of the approach (20 %),

— organisation of work and degree of involvement of competent authorities/organisations in the Member States

covered by the action (30 %),

— interest of project at European level and multiplier effect (30 %),

— cost effectiveness ratio of the project (20 %).

The coverage of more than three Member States in Phase 2 of the action will be regarded as an asset.

L 161/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.6.2008

4. Level of co-financing

The preparatory action will be divided in two phases:

— Phase 1 shall

include a feasibility study, recommendations and specifications for the establishment of a
certification scheme for control posts with a maximum amount granted of EUR 300 000 covering at
maximum 90 % of the eligible costs,

— Phase 2 shall include the building or the renovation of pilot control posts and the validation of a experimental
certification scheme for control posts to be harmonised with EU requirements with a maximum amount
granted of EUR 3 700 000 and at maximum 70 % of the total eligible costs of the operation. This action
shall cover at least three Member States and it shall depend on the approval of the feasibility study of Phase 1.

5. Time schedule

The preparatory action shall be performed by one call for proposals. The call is expected to be launched in June
2008 and will be open for three months. The award decision is expected in 2008 or early in 2009.

Appropriations 2008:

17 04 03 03 — Control posts (resting points) in relation to the transport of animals: EUR 4 000 000

Number of specific actions planned: One call for proposals.

This action shall be governed by the rules laid down in Title VI of Part One of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and Title VI of
Part One of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation
of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of
the European Communities.

II. Pilot project under budget line 17 01 04 06

Legal basis: Article 49(6) point (a) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002

Appropriations 2008:

17 01 04 06 – pilot project: improved methods for animal-friendly production: EUR 1 000 000

Number of specific actions planned: An open call for tender for a contract for services is expected to be launched in
June 2008. The contract will be signed before the end of the year.

The action shall be governed by the rules laid down in Title V of Part One of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and Title V of
Part One of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation
of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of
the European Communities.