92000E3709

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3709/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Commission mission carried out in Thailand concerning poultry meat

The Commission has published a report of a mission carried out by its Food and Veterinary Office in Thailand from 6 to 17 December 1999 concerning the production of poultry meat (DG (SANCO)/1214/1999-MR Final). Paragraph 3.6.3. states that the handling in the slaughterhouse of crates containing live birds and the unloading of the crates and the hanging of the birds on the shackle line was done carefully. However, the paragraph then states that the stunning equipment was not properly adjusted in most of the establishments and that the central competent authority did not define the electrical parameters to be used for stunning. Paragraph 5.6 states that there should be more detailed supervision of stunning.

Would the Commission explain in what way the stunning equipment was not properly adjusted? What steps is the Commission taking to urge the central competent authority of Thailand to remedy the deficiencies in respect of stunning referred to in the Commission's report?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

Particular attention is paid to the stunning of poultry slaughtered for human consumption during the missions carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office of the Commission. Such missions have been carried out in all the Member States and a number of third countries. Deficiencies have quite often been noted, which can be categorised as follows: deficiencies in supervision; deficiencies in construction of the water stunner (too short, too wide, wrong direction of dueflow, etc.); deficiencies in adjustment (too low amperage, no indicator for the amperage, only for voltage).

As the Honourable Member quite correctly states, those deficiencies were noted during the mission to Thailand (6-17 December 1999).

The management of the different establishments have reacted immediately, sometimes overnight, in adjusting or even repairing the stunning equipment, or if that was not possible, by ordering new stunning equipment. Moreover, information was received on action taken during the period of the mission in relation to training and advice to competent staff.

The competent authority of Thailand has informed the Commission, following the mission, that the electrical parameters for stunning of the different species have now been defined officially and a more detailed supervision during the time of operation of the establishment has been implemented. It is the Commission's intention to check these assurances during a future follow up mission to Thailand.