WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2048/97 by Gianni TAMINO to the Commission. Conditions for the transport of live animals
C 76/70 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 3. 98 5. The environmental impact study in question establishes that the transformation of lindane into trichlorobenzene constitutes the optimum solution to the problem on account, in particular, of the following factors: on the one hand, treatment on the spot avoids any risk of volatilization of the lindane and subsequent contamination during transport, and on the other, the plant is a temporary installation and will be destroyed after the processing of 4 500 tonnes of pure lindane. (1) OJ L 257, 10. 10. 1996. (2) OJ L 377, 31. 12. 1991. (3) OJ L 78, 26. 3. 1991. (4) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985. (98/C 76/156) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2048/97 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (13 June 1997) Subject: Conditions for the transport of live animals On 16 May 1997 a local veterinary official in Latisana (Udine) blocked for 48 hours a lorry-load of 50 Rottweiler puppies and 20 pedigree kittens crowded into four containers designed to hold two. The lorry (registration EJR832), which had arrived from Hungary by means of the Gorizia crossing and was bound for SARL Francis Duprat in Montespan, France, had no proper ventilation and had been closed for over 24 hours owing to engine problems. Having established that the animals, which were in a disastrous state of health, had been taken temporarily to the kennels in Porpetto (Udine) for appropriate treatment, the local anti-vivisection league, on the basis of the data in its possession, asked for a check to be made on whether the carriers and those responsible for the delivery had infringed national law (Law No 473 of 22 November 1993 on new rules against the maltreatment of animals, amending Article 727 of the Criminal Code and Decree-Law No 532 of 30 December 1992 implementing Directive 91/628/EEC (1) on the protection of animals during transport). Twenty-four hours after the animals had been unloaded, given the availability of alternative means of transport, another local veterinary official would appear to have granted authorization for the journey to be continued, without taking any action against those responsible. What clarifications does the Commission intend to seek in connection with this matter, with particular regard to the controls carried out on the lorryís arrival on EU territory at the Gorizia crossing? What action does it intend to take in response to the mounting evidence of young domestic animals being imported for commercial purposes from eastern European countries, which raises serious ethical and health issues? (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 17. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (17 July 1997) Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport, amended by Directive 95/29/EEC (1), includes rules for the transport of dogs and cats. Article 11 states that the transporter must give a written undertaking to comply with the requirements of this Directive (including the annex concerned) and must make arrangements to comply with these requirements. The official veterinarian at the frontier post must check on compliance with these requirements as well as compliance with feeding and watering requirements of the Directive. The Commission will take contact with the Italian authorities on the matters raised by the Honourable Member, especially to obtain precise information as to what happened at the frontier post concerned and also to have particulars of the actions taken to block the transport temporarily and subsequently to grant authorization for continuing the journey. (1) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995