92000E3809

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3809/00

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Export of live horses

European Union legislation on the transportation of horses states that, after every 8 hours of travel, the horses must be unloaded, given food and water and rested for at least 24 hours. The animals must be facing the same direction, be tethered, and mares and stallions should be separated.

Will the Commission state what steps it is taking to ensure compliance?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Chapter VII of the Annex to 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 Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995(2) provides watering and feeding intervals as well as journey times and resting periods for livestock including horses.

As a general rule journey times for livestock shall not exceed eight hours. However paragraph 4(c) of Chapter VII allows domestic solipeds to be transported for a maximum period of twenty-four hours provided that additional requirements are met.

Day-to-day enforcement of Community legislation is the responsibility of Member States. The Commission undertakes on-the-spot checks in Member States to ensure that competent authorities apply Community legislation in an effective and uniform manner.

It should be mentioned that the Commission has opened infringement proceedings against some Member States in relation to their failure to implement Community legislation in this field.

In addition the Commission has recently adopted a report(3) on the experience acquired by Member States on the application of the Directive. The document is submitted to the Council and to the Parliament.

The Commission's report finds major shortcomings in enforcement of the legislation by national authorities. Member States should allocate in the near future adequate resources in order to apply the current legislation more efficiently.

Following the outcome of the report the Commission will start to review the current legislation. In preparing its prooposals the Commission is likely to consider different aspects and in particular the rapid adoption of additional measures for the protection of horses.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.

(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995.

(3) Report from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since the implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during transport COM(2000) 809 final.