92002E2161

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2161/02

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: Welfare of animals in livestock markets

Instances of cruelty against animals at livestock markets throughout the European Union continue to surface. Recent filmed evidence by the welfare group, Animals Angels', highlighted quite shocking animal cruelty in two livestock markets in Belgium. This sort of physical abuse and basic neglect is going unchecked at the very heart of the European Union.

Would not the Commission agree that European legislation laying down basic protection for animals at livestock markets should be drawn up as soon as possible?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2161/02, P-2207/02 and E-2244/02given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The establishment of rules to prevent maltreatment of and cruelty to animals is an area where competence of the Community is limited. The Community has no general power to regulate animal welfare. However it can regulate this matter either where differing national welfare rules risk distorting competition in the internal market, or in relation to a sector (such as agriculture) where it has more extensive regulatory powers.

In this framework, the Commission is committed to use its powers to help stop unacceptable animal welfare practices.

Concerning the case mentioned by the Honourable Members, infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty have been initiated against the Belgian authorities with regard to the inadequate implementation of Community legal provisions on animal welfare. As part of this process, several inspections by officials of the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office took place in Belgium regarding the implementation of European legislation on animal protection on farm, transport and slaughterhouses. This included livestock markets. The findings and recommendations arising from these inspection visits have been published on the Internet(1).

The experience of recent years has shown that there is a need to improve animal welfare in livestock markets. A forthcoming Commission proposal concerning the protection of animals during transport, will cover this area. The intention of such legislation is to ensure that Member States take the appropriate measures to ensure that animal welfare considerations are an integral part of the operation of livestock markets. It is not feasible, however, that the Commission assume responsibility for the supervision of such operations. This role is appropriate to the Member States both in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity and the resource limitations of the Commission.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/index_en.html.