WRITTEN QUESTION E-2704/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Transport of animals.
C 225 E/196 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 (2000/C 225 E/221) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2704/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Transport of animals Recent investigations carried out by animal welfare NGOs have shown that many farm animals suffer during long-distance transportation to slaughterhouses. The Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, will be presenting a summary of these investigations to the European Commission prior to a review of the Directive on the Protection of Animals during Transport (91/628/ EEC (1) as amended by 95/29/EC (2)). It is clear that the enforcement of the transport rules is not being taken seriously by Member States. What steps is the Commission proposing to take to ensure better enforcement? (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 17. (2) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995, p. 52. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (4 February 2000) The Commission is aware, both from information gathered during inspection missions and as a result of complaints from animal welfare organisations (such as the report from Eurogroup for animal welfare mentioned by the Honourable Member), that journeys which are in breach of the provisions of Council Directive 91/628/EC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during transport (1), notably in relation to time limits and resting, feeding and watering requirements, still frequently take place in the Community. Concerning future activities the Commission is considering measures based on an opinion of the scientific committee on animal welfare adopted on 8 December 1999, on standards in the vehicles transporting livestock. This proposal is foreseen for the first quarter of 2000. A working group of the standing veterinary committee has recently been established to consider particular problems of the enforcement of the Directive in respect of long-distance transport operations including the import of horses from third countries. Copies of the report from Eurogroup mentioned above have been distributed to the Member States during the first meeting of the group. During the next year the Commission will consider proposals to amend current Community legislation on the basis of the conclusions of this working group. During the first quarter of 2000, as provided by Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (2), the Commission will present to the Council a report on the experience acquired by Member States since the implementation of this Directive. The report will take into consideration all the information transmitted by Member States, the result of the inspection carried out by the food and veterinary office in this field and the data derived from the complaints from non-governmental organisations. (1) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (2) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2000/C 225 E/222) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2730/99 by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Work-related deaths in developing countries Is the Commission aware that every year over one million work-related deaths occur around the world and hundreds of thousands of workers are injured in industrial accidents? The number of deaths caused by work-related injuries is particularly high in the developing countries