WRITTEN QUESTION E-1115/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Protection of animals during transport.
6. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 72 E/19 Pharmaceuticals are administered to the animals during rearing and to prevent disease. Eggs that are laid during that period or immediately thereafter must of course be destroyed. The same also applies if the treatment is suspended. It is absolutely essential for a necessary transition period to be allowed to lapse to enable the substances administered to pass out of the hensí systems, a requirement clearly not complied with in these cases. Consumption of eggs contaminated with antibiotics results in certain bacteria becoming more resistant and in human beings adapting to the substances, whereby the effectiveness of antibiotics when used to treat sickness is undermined. Will the Commission state if it is familiar with this problem and if it proposes to take action to guarantee consumer protection in this connection, thereby protecting the health of European Union citizens? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (9 June 2000) According to Annex II of Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and products (1), surveillance of antibacterial substances, these including sulfonamides and quinolones, must be done in eggs, regardless of whether or not substances have already been authorised to treat laying hens. The Commission has not received the Italian national report of results for 1999 on the surveillance programme. Following the Honourable Memberís question, a request has been addressed to the Italian authorities about this incident and, depending on the reply, appropriate measures will be taken. (1) OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996. (2001/C 72 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1115/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: Protection of animals during transport Five reports published by the Commission during 1999 on veterinary missions to various Member States show widespread breaches of Council Directive 91/628/EEC (1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29/ EC (2)) on the protection of animals during transport. What steps is the Commission taking to remind Member States that: 1. 2. they should reject route plans which contain no arrangements for sheep and cattle to be unloaded and given food, water and 24 hours rest after travelling for 29 hours; and that ábasicí vehicles which fail to comply with Council Regulation 411/98 (3) should not be used to transport animals on journeys exceeding 8 hours. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991, p. 17. (2) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995, p. 52. (3) OJ L 52, 21. 2. 1998, p. 8. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (22 May 2000) The Commission is aware that journeys which are in breach of the provisions of Council Directive 91/ 628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC (1) as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 (2) are still taking place in the Community. C 72 E/20 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 3. 2001 Member States are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of Community legislation. Commission experts, however, carry out periodic on-the-spot checks to ensure uniform application of the Directive and that the authorities of the Member States are monitoring compliance with the requirements of this Directive. The approval of improper route plans by the authorities and the use of vehicles which fail to comply with Council Regulation (EC) No 411/98 of 16 February 1998 on additional animal protection standards applicable to road vehicles used for the carriage of livestock on journeys exceeding eight hours (3) are infringements which have been reported by inspection missions of the food and veterinary office (FVO) of the Commission. Infringement proceedings in relation to the protection of animals during transport have been opened against Greece and others are being prepared in relation to some other Member States. In the meantime, the Commission has recently taken several additional steps to improve various aspects of the protection of animals during transport. Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC provides for the Commission to submit a report to the Council on the experience acquired by the Member States since the implementation of the Directive, possibly accompanied by proposals. The report will be presented to the Council before June 2000 taking into account all available information and in particular the findings of the FVO missions which the Honourable Member mentioned. The Commission will put forward proposals to amend current legislation to ensure better enforcement in the light of the conclusions of the above- mentioned report. (1) OJ L 340, 11. 12. 1991. (2) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (3) OJ L 52, 21. 2. 1998. (2001/C 72 E/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1159/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: White Paper on Food Safety and the European Food Authority The White Paper on Food Safety (COM(1999) 719 final) was published in January 2000. Chapter 4 is concerned with establishing a European Food Authority (EFA). Chapter 5 considers legislation on food safety. Labelling has become a trade policy issue in many different fields including food safety. The Commission is seeking multilateral guidelines on labelling (section 99). It makes sense to use the same labelling rules for imported products as for products produced in the EU. Will the Commission seek to ensure that multilateral labelling guidelines are at least equivalent to EU rules? If so, has any action already been taken on these lines in an international context? If not, why is the labelling guidelines of equivalent value and what alternatives are Commission opposed to multilateral available to the Commission for applying the same labelling rules to imported food as to food produced in the EU? Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission (16 June 2000) The policy of the Commission is that compulsory labelling should be applied equally to both Community products and imports from third countries. Current Community legislation on food labelling already sets general and specific rules applicable to both Community and imported products. To date, these requirements have not been challenged. Nevertheless, there are important factors which should be taken into account in the context of international trade