WRITTEN QUESTION P-0393/00 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Council Directive 91/628 (as amended by Council Directive 95/29 of June 1995) on protection of animals during transport.
C 330 E/150 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 (2000/C 330 E/169) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0393/00 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (8 February 2000) Subject: Council Directive 91/628 (as amended by Council Directive 95/29 of June 1995) on protection of animals during transport Council Directive 91/628 (1) (as amended by Council Directive 95/29 (2) concerning the protection of animals during transport states that no live animal shall be transported in a condition which can cause suffering and that the Member States are responsible for the proper enforcement of the Directive. According to Article 13 of Council Directive 95/29 of June 1995, the Commission should submit before 31 December 1999 a report to the Council on the experience acquired by the Member States since the implementation of the Directive, possibly accompanied by proposals. When does the Commission expect to comply with this requirement? Does the Commission agree that the proposals accompanying the Commissionís report to the Council should call for the EU to adopt a major change of policy whereby the long distance transport of live animals is abandoned and replaced by a trade in meat? (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 (3 March 2000) The Commissionís responsibilities towards animal protection have increased under the recent amendment of the EC Treaty which requires the European institutions and Member States to consider animal welfare a priority when drawing up agricultural, transport, single market and research policies. During the first quarter of this year following the provision of Article 13 of Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during transport, the Commission will present to the Council a report on the experience acquired by Member States in the application of Community legislation in this field. if all provisions of Community legislation are rigorously enforced, It is the Commissionís view that, animals can be transported under satisfactory welfare conditions. However, it is evident that problems are being experienced, especially with very long distance travel, both within the Community and for animals imported from European third countries. These problems are being kept under close review by the Commission, and are drawn to the attention of Member States as and when they occur. The data concerning the enforcement of the Directive on animal protection during transport derived from the above mentioned report as well as new scientific evidence in this subject will be taken into account by the Commission to amend current Community legislation. (2000/C 330 E/170) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0395/00 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission (8 February 2000) Subject: Canadian seal cull quota The Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Herb Dhaliwal, has recently announced the quota for seal hunting. The 2000 quota is set at 275 000 for zadel seals and 10 000 for klapmutsen. These quotas are the same as last year but in previous years the quotas were on the increase (having quadrupled since 1995)