WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2420/97 by Laura DE ESTEBAN MARTIN to the Council. Training courses for officials
3. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 102/41 (98/C 102/58) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2420/97 by Laura De Esteban Martin (PPE) to the Council (18 July 1997) Subject: Training courses for officials Can the Council state how many training courses were held for officials under the third pillar during 1995, 1996 and 1997, giving details of the participation of the various Member States in each one? Could the Council also state whether there are any statistics or whether any study has been carried out on the result(s) of these courses? Answer (17 November 1997) The Council has not organized any specific training courses in the field of Justice and Home Affairs. (98/C 102/59) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2429/97 by Carlo Casini (PPE) to the Commission (11 July 1997) Subject: Health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of poultry from third countries Under Decisions 96/482/EC (1) and 96/483/EC (2) veterinary certificates for importing poultry from certain third countries are granted subject to a compulsory period of six weeksí quarantine after the poultry is imported. This period of quarantine causes major problems for poultry intended for breeding since, during the breeding period the males are kept in shared coops and fight amongst themselves with such violence that they cause unnecessary suffering and often death. Given the above, will the Commission say whether, in the light of the rules on animal welfare, it intends to remedy this situation by speeding up the checks and administrative procedures provided for as much as possible and eliminating the quarantine period or reducing it to the absolute minimum? (1) OJ L 196, 7. 8. 1996, p. 13. (2) OJ L 196, 7. 8. 1996, p. 28. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (19 September 1997) Commission Decision 96/482/EC lays down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the import of poultry and hatching eggs other than ratites (flightless birds) and their eggs from third countries, including animal health measures to be applied after import. This decision does not provide for detailed quarantine measures, but establishes an isolation and a minimal observation period in order to avoid any deterioration of the health status on the territory of the Community. In particular, according to Article 3 of this decision, following import, breeding or productive poultry shall be kept on the holding of destination for a period of at least six weeks from the day of arrival. During this period, the imported poultry shall be kept separately from non-imported poultry. The decision does not require that during this period the birds be kept in cages or in shared coops