91999E0041

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0041/99

by Philippe De Coene (PSE) to the Commission

(22 January 1999)

Subject: Availability of pharmaceuticals for horses

In accordance with EU legislation now in force, horses are classified as animals for human consumption. This has important implications for the lawful administration of pharmaceuticals to sick horses.

Does the Commission not consider that a distinction ought to be made, in the interests of these animals' welfare, between horses intended for human consumption and horses bred for other purposes?

How does the Commission view the proposal to amend all relevant legislation accordingly? Only then will it be possible for veterinarians to administer pharmaceutical products authorized for use with domestic animals and humans to horses.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 1999)

The Commission is well aware of this very complex problem and makes all efforts to find solutions for the availability of veterinary pharmaceuticals. However, the Commission must take into account aspects of consumer health protection as well as aspects of animal health and welfare. To this extent problems do not only exist for the treatment of horses but also concern "minor species" such as fish, rabbits, sheep and goats, farmed game etc. and "minor uses" for rare clinical indications.

In accordance with the EC Treaty, horses are agricultural animals. Council Directive 64/433/EEC of 26 June 1964 on health conditions for intra-Community trade in fresh meat(1) applies to horsemeat.

While in the Community the majority of horses are bred primarily for uses other than food production, slaughter of horses at a certain stage of their lives and trade in horses for slaughter is neither excluded by Community law nor national regulations of Member States. Taking account of the longevity of horses, the frequent change of owner or nationality and the different purposes for which a horse may be used during its career, the enforcement of a general distinction between horses as companion animals and food producing animals is difficult.

Slaughter for human consumption of individual horses could be excluded or delayed when they had received treatment with medicinal products containing substances for which the maximum residue limits (MRL) have not been established in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin(2). However, such horses should be specifically identified and the received treatment must be recorded. Commission Decision 93/623/EEC(3) established the identification document (passport) for horses when travelling all over the world. The passport, together with proper certification, has proven its validity in preventing the introduction into the Community of major equine diseases.

(1) OJ L 121, 29.7.1964.

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(3) OJ L 298, 3.12.1993.