WRITTEN QUESTION E-0206/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Live transport of farm animals.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/161 3 March 1997 amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1). The Directive, provides that (Article 4, paragraph 2): Subject to Article 2(3), for projects listed in Annex II, the Member States shall determine through: (a) a case-by-case examination, or (b) thresholds or criteria set by the Member State whether the project shall be made subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10. Member States may decide to apply both procedures referred to in (a) and (b). Not being aware of the situation described by the Honourable Member, the Commission will take the appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information about it and to ensure the observance of Community law. (1) OJ L 73, 14. 3. 1997. (2000/C 303 E/178) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0206/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Live transport of farm animals What action does the Commission intend to take in response to the November report by the Food and Veterinary Office which: ü highlighted serious shortcomings at Italian border inspection posts regarding the enforcement of EU rules for journey times, resting periods, watering and feeding of animals, ü recommended that the Italian authorities take immediate action to ensure that animals, who may have undergone long journeys from distant places of departure in third countries, are rested for 24 hours, where applicable, and ü recommended that the Italian authorities should respond within 10 working days to the findings of the report, giving details of actions taken and planned to address the problems? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (21 March 2000) The Commission is aware from reports by its veterinary inspectorate and the response from the Italian authorities as well as complaints from various animal welfare organizations, of the problems in relation to the insufficient enforcement of Council Directive 91/628/EC on the protection of animals during transport (1) as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC concerning the protection of animals during transport arriving at some Italian border inspection posts (BIPS). When animals arrive at the frontier of the Community in a condition where they are clearly not fit for further transport, the Member State concerned is obliged to take the necessary action to protect the welfare of the animals involved by giving them proper care and attention with a sufficient resting period. Five veterinary inspection missions have been carried out at the Italian border inspection posts of Gorizia and Prosecco-Fernetti in the last five years. Following the most recent mission in July 1999, the Italian authorities have responded to the recommendations concerning animal welfare and have given assurances that steps would be taken to ensure the 24 hour availability of veterinary personnel and that specific instructions would be issued to staff to ensure compliance with animal welfare legislation. A further mission is foreseen to Italian BIPS, including Gorizia and Prosecco for the second half of this year. The Commission is reviewing the matter and will not hesitate to open infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty should this prove necessary. C 303 E/162 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 The Commission is also considering closer cooperation with Eastern European countries to improve checks at departure and during transport. Most of the third countries concerned are in the process of accession and could be helped by the technical assistance information exchange office (TAIEX). Contacts have recently been made with TAIEX in order to promote animal welfare in these countries and particularly in relation to the transport of live animals. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2000/C 303 E/179) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0209/00 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: The import of live animals from third countries In October 1999 the Commission published a report showing that the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC) (2) on the protection of animals during transport are often not being enforced at certain Italian border inspection posts in respect of live animals entering the European Union from third countries. Animal welfare organisations have also reported breaches of the laws designed to protect animals during transport at the border inspection post of Gorizia. the Commission now consider withdrawing the approval Will inspection post? for Gorizia to function as a border Will the Commission also consider opening the Article 226 infringement procedure in respect of Italyís failure to enforce the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC) at certain border inspection posts? (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 (28 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the problems in relation to the insufficient enforcement 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 at the border inspection post of Gorizia (Italy). Reports by its veterinary inspectorate and complaints from various animal welfare organizations also indicate that problems continue to exist in this domain. In the last five years five veterinary inspections missions have been carried out at the Italian border inspection posts of Gorizia and Prosseco-Fernetti. The report on Gorizia, with reference to an inspection carried out in July 1999, did not recommend the withdrawal of approval for the importation of live animals. Withdrawing the approval of Gorizia to function as a border inspection post is also not foreseen, as this measure would not prevent the traffic from continuing through other routes. The Commission has intervened with the Italian authorities on a number of occasions concerning the inadequate enforcement of the national legislation transposing the requirements of Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC. Although some short-term improvements were noted in respect of earlier interventions it nevertheless appears that transport of the animals concerned is still frequently being carried out with inadequate respect of animal welfare requirements. The Commission will also in due course take a decision as to whether to open infringement proceedings under Article 226 (ex Article 169) EC treaty in respect of Italyís failure to adequately enforce the rules of the animal transport directives