WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2216/98 by David THOMAS Welfare of laying hens
C 320/4 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 11. 1999 (1999/C 320/004) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2216/98 by David Thomas (PSE) to the Commission (16 July 1998) Subject: Welfare of laying hens Can the Commission confirm whether the provisions of Directive 88/166/EEC (1) have been implemented by all Member States and how many on-the-spot controls to verify compliance with the Directive have been carried out by Commission inspectors? (1) OJ L 74, 19. 3. 1988, p. 83. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1998) According to the information the Commission has received from the Member States, all have implemented Council Directive 88/166/EEC of 7 March 1998 complying with the judgment of the Court of justice in Case 131/86 (annulment of Council Directive 86/113/EEC of 25 March 1986 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in battery cages). The Commission has, however, recently received a complaint from a trade association alleging that the Directive is not correctly enforced in some Member States. This complaint is currently being investigated. In the field of animal welfare, the veterinary inspectors of the Commission have so far during their missions to Member States concentrated their efforts on the protection of animals during transport (Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1)) and at the time of slaughter (Council Directive 93/119/EEC (2)). It is, however, intended to extend the veterinary on-the-spot checks to other fields in the near future, such as the well-being of laying hens kept in battery cages. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993. (1999/C 320/005) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (16 July 1998) Subject: Human rights in China Noting the stance taken by the European Union at the annual meeting of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva on the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is the Commission of the view that the European Union is exerting optimum pressure on China to improve its human rights record? What steps are being taken by the Commission to monitor abuses of human rights in China and has the Commission taken any action with regard to relations with the Chinese authorities to promote the universality of human rights? Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (8 September 1998) Since October 1997 the European Union and China have been engaged in a series of regular, detailed meetings covering all aspects of human rights in China. Even the most sensitive issues have been covered by the dialogue and it is supported by a range of Community funded projects designed to help reinforce the respect for human rights in China. In addition, every opportunity is taken to raise the plight of individual dissidents imprisoned in China