92003E0156

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0156/03

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 January 2003)

Subject: Maltreatment of animals at European livestock markets

Each year, thousands of animals such as horses are transported from Eastern European owners and dealers to European Union countries, in particular to the more

southern countries. These animals are often maltreated, beaten and tortured and are not transported according to EU animal welfare laws. Why is the ruling on sentiency not being used and enforced in these instances to prohibit such cruel and inhumane treatment of animals?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Animals are recognised as sentient beings in the Protocol to the EC Treaty on the protection and welfare of animals and, furthermore, that text requires the Community and the Member States are to pay full regard to animal welfare in formulating and implementing the Community policies on agriculture, transport, the internal market and research.

The principal Community requirements for the protection of animals during transport are contained in Council Directive 91/628/EEC as amended by Directive 95/29/EC(1). This Directive applies only in the territory of the Union as presently constituted, although the candidate countries for membership are currently in the process of aligning their legislation with its requirements.

The Commission recognises that the transport of horses from Central and Eastern European countries for slaughter in the Community has, in the past, given rise for legitimate concerns in relation to animal welfare. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has highlighted these concerns in a number of its mission reports. Furthermore, animal welfare groups have frequently provided information concerning alleged breaches of the requirements of the Directive.

The Commission has intervened vigorously with the Member States concerned when these matters have been brought to its attention. More recent FVO mission reports have noted some improvement in the condition in which horses arrive in southern Italian slaughterhouses after long journeys from Central and Eastern Europe.

The Commission is currently completing the drafting of a proposal for a new Council Regulation on the protection of animals during transport which contains a number of provisions which aim directly to improve the situation of transported horses, for example requiring lorries transporting these animals to be divided into individual compartments.

More comprehensive and stringent requirements for the registration of transporters and the training of those handling animals should also help to improve standards of animal welfare during journeys.

Last but not least, the accession of the principal countries of origin and transit of horses imported into the Community for slaughter will mean that in the majority of cases, the whole journey will be in territory where the requirements of Community law can be fully enforced.

(1) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.