WRITTEN QUESTION E-0039/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: The CAP and animal welfare

The CAP currently incorporates much legislation on animal welfare. However, Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999(1) encourages the castration of bovine animals, providing for two annual subsidies for castrated animals but only one for those which are uncastrated.

In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, as in other island regions, bovine animals which are raised solely for meat have not traditionally been castrated, but now farmers are compelled to adopt the practice on pain of forfeiting part of their Community subsidy.

Is it not contrary to the principles of animal welfare to provide incentives to castrate bovine animals?

How do the principles of the CAP justify this type of incentive?

Could not the Commission, when proposing amendments to regulations further to its report on the outermost regions, propose that this rule be waived, at least in the Autonomous Region of the Azores?

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

The rearing of steers (castrated male bovines) is a traditional beef production system yielding meat of a specific quality differing from that from uncastrated animals. It is found particularly in Member States such as France, Ireland and the United Kingdom that can devote large areas of grassland to feeding such

animals. In this type of extensive farming castration, effected at a very early age to minimise pain, is necessary to prevent fighting and obtain the desired quality of meat.

Since reform of the beef sector in 1992 aid in respect of male animals is granted at most twice in the animal's life, once between the age of 10 and 22 months and a second time from 23 months. This in practice amounts to an annual premium granted twice on each animal in the case of longer fattening systems (currently steers). In the case of bulls the second premium gave rise to production of particularly heavy animals and it was discontinued from 1997 (in certain cases from 1999). So far there has been no increase in the number of applications for second age range premiums (castrated animals) but rather the contrary. The new reform of the sector has kept to this approach by retaining a single premium for bulls ( 210) and two premiums for steers ( 150 for both age ranges).

On his last question the Honourable Member is asked to refer to the Commission's answer to his Written Question E-0038/00(1).

(1) See page 130.