WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3641/97 by David MARTIN to the Commission. Experimentation on wild animals
C 158/166 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 5. 98 It is, furthermore, the intention of the Commission to examine the issue of whether or not breeding pigs should be unloaded at staging points and, if appropriate, to present proposals which provide for the animals concerned welfare conditions at least equivalent to those foreseen in Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (3). (1) OJ L 74, 19. 3. 1988. (2) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993. (3) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, Directive as last amended by Directive 95/29/EC, OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (98/C 158/222) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3641/97 by David Martin (PSE) to the Commission (13 November 1997) Subject: Experimentation on wild animals Would the Commission please detail any factors which it considers would prevent the inclusion of a ban on the use of wild-caught primates for experiments in the EU in the Community Policy Statement on the use of Primates as Laboratory Animalsí currently being drafted? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 December 1997) The draft Community policy statement on the use of primates as laboratory animals is a working document which will be used as a basis for discussions on the use of non-human primates. The measures covered by this working document together with other issues concerning the use of non-human primates will be discussed at the next meeting of the national authorities responsible for the implementation of Directive 86/609/EEC concerning the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (1), scheduled to take place on 4 December 1997. In the light of the outcome of this meeting the Commission will then consult representatives of industry and non-governmental organisations. At this stage it is not yet possible to present a position on possible options concerning a ban on the use of wild-caught primates. (1) OJ L 358, 18. 12. 1986. (98/C 158/223) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3646/97 by Angela Sierra Gonza·lez (GUE/NGL) and Laura Gonza·lez A· lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (19 November 1997) Subject: Referendum on independence in the Sahara In September 1997, an agreement was reached in Houston between Morocco and the Polisario Front to hold a referendum to decide on the sovereignty of the Sahara. Hitherto, Morocco has blocked the holding of this consultation of the Saharan citizens of the area, but the date proposed by Morocco appears to have removed any doubts as to whether the referendum would be held. Through its humanitarian aid programmes, the EU repeatedly donated materials to help cover the basic necessities of the Saharan people, whose situation during a 22-year exile has been precarious