WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2004/98 by Hartmut NASSAUER to the Council. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/133 (1999/C 13/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1996/98 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Export of greyhounds within Europe What efforts are being made by the Commission to ensure the welfare of greyhounds when they are exported from one EU country to another and to monitor the conditions under which they are raced? And what steps are being taken to ensure that the subsidies given to Irish breeders are used in a manner which does not perpetuate cruelty? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 July 1998) The transport of greyhounds from one Member State to another for racing purposes should respect the conditions laid down in Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 concerning the protection of animals during transport (1). The animal welfare conditions under which greyhounds are kept and raced within a Member State are not regulated by Community law and in consequence this aspect is a matter within the sole jurisdiction of the Member State concerned. In relation to the subsidies in Ireland, investments were aimed at improving the housing for greyhounds. However, in the meantime, it has been agreed with the Irish authorities that no subsidies will be provided under the Operational programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry scheme 1994-1999 to finance greyhound breeding. (1) OJ L 148, 30. 6. 1995. (1999/C 13/188) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2004/98 by Hartmut Nassauer (PPE) to the Council (29 June 1998) Subject: Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 (1) lays down a procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin. The implementation of this regulation in practice raises the following questions: 1. Does it follow from the Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits that medicinal products for animals generally lose their licences if they are not tested or if those limits are exceeded? 2. Has account been taken of the fact that, because medicinal products for horses constitute such a small market, it is not worthwhile for manufacturers to conduct expensive pharmacological studies in order to renew their licences for such preparations, with the result that an increasing number of medicinal products are losing their licences? 3. Is the Council aware that, consequently, non-food-producing horses are also being deprived of necessary medical treatment? 4. Should not such animals be excluded, therefore, from the scope of the regulation, so that they can continue to be treated with medicinal products that exceed the permitted residue limits? 5. 6. Is account taken of the fact that, in some countries, it is only very rarely that horses are intended for consumption? Is it not necessary to distinguish between horses used for sport or recreation, the medical treatment of which should not be subject to restrictions, and horses for slaughter, the treatment of which should be so restricted?