2000/50/EC: Commission Decision of 17 December 1999 concerning minimum requirements for the inspection of holdings on which animals are kept for farming purposes (notified under document number C(1999) 4534) (Text with EEA relevance)
25. 1. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 19/51 COMMISSION DECISION of 17 December 1999 concerning minimum requirements for the inspection of holdings on which animals are kept for farming purposes (notified under document number C(1999) 4534) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/50/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept farming for purposes (1), and in particular Article 6(3) thereof, Whereas: (1) (2) (3) (4) the Member States shall submit to the Commission reports on the inspections required in Article 6 of Directive 98/58/EC; the format, content and frequency of submission of the inspection reports from the Member States must be harmonised and it is important to collect information on the quantity as well as the quality of the inspections in order to evaluate if compliance with Council Directive 98/58/EC is ensured in the Member States; those inspections are relevant the results of for the Commission to submit specific reports to the Standing Veterinary Committee based on Article 6(2) of Directive 98/58/EC; the measures provided for in this Decision are in accord- the Standing Veterinary ance with the opinion of Committee, Article 1 1. Member States will submit to the Commission a report including the results of the inspections carried out in the field of the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. 2. In the light of the provisions of Article 6(3) of Directive 98/58/EC, the report will have to comply with the information specified in the Annex. Article 2 The report will have to be presented to the Commission every two years, by the last working day in April and for the first time by 30 April 2002. This Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 2000. Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Article 4 Done at Brussels, 17 December 1999. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission (1) OJ L 221, 8. 8. 1998, p. 23. L 19/52 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 1. 2000 ANNEX 1. Species or category of animals — Calves — Pigs — Laying hens 2. Table concerning the information requested for each species and category of animals based on the Annex of Council Directive 98/58/EC INFORMATION REQUESTED FOR EACH SPECIES AND CATEGORY OF ANIMALS MEMBER STATE: Species and category of animal: Calves Pigs Laying Hens Number of holdings: Year: Kind and number of infringements Number of inspections/ average:. Number of legal actions taken in consequence Requirement Definition (as Directive 98/58/EC) Total number Advice Other sanctions Staffing Animal shall be cared by an appropriate number of staff who possesses the appropriate knowledge. Inspection Animal shall be inspected at least once a day. Adequate light shall be available to enable the animals to be thoroughly inspected at any time. Animal which appears to be ill or injured must be cared for appropriately without delay. Where necessary sick or injured animals shall be isolated in suitable accomodation. Record keeping The owner or keeper shall maintain a record of any medicinal treatment given and of the number of mortalities found at each inspection. For a period of at least three years. Freedom of movement The animal must not be restricted in such a way as to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury. Buildings Materials and equipment with which the animals may come into contact must not be harmful to the animals. No sharp edges or protrusions. Air circulation, dust levels, temperature, relative air humidity and gas concentration must be kept in limits which are not harmful to the animals. Animals kept in buildings must not be kept in permanent darkness or without an appropriate period of rest. Equipment Where the health and well-being of the animals is dependent on an artificial ventilation system, provision must be made for an appropriate backup system to guarantee sufficient air renewal to preserve the health and well-being of the animals in the event of failure of the system, and an alarm system must be provided to give warning of breakdown. Feeding and other substances No other substance, with the exception of those given for therapeutic, or prophylactic purposes or for the purposes of zootechnical treatment as defined in Article 1(2)(c) of Directive 96/22/EC (1) must be administered to an animal unless it has been demonstrated by scientific studies of animal welfare or established experience that the effect of that substance is not detrimental to the health or welfare of the animal. Mutilations Reference to national legislation. Breeding procedures Natural or artificial breeding or breeding procedures which cause or are likely to cause suffering or injury to any of the animals concerned must not be practised. This provision shall not preclude the use of certain procedures likely to cause minimal or momentary suffering or injury, or which might necessitate interventions which would not cause lasting injury, where these are allowed by national provisions. (1) Council Directive 96/22/EC of 29 April 1996 concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists (OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996, p. 3)