91997E2287

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2287/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Live exports of cattle

Compassion in World Farming has set up a petition campaign, urging the Commission to withdraw the export refund grants for live exports of cattle from Ireland.

Last year 5,000 Irish cattle were stranded off the Egyptian port of Alexandria and 1,130 cattle off the Libyan capital Tripoli for several weeks with inadequate food supplies. There have been numerous other reports of animals suffering and dying as a result of live exports to the Middle East and North Africa.

The draft Treaty of Amsterdam suggests a protocol stating that 'in formulating and implementing the Community's agriculture, transport, internal market and research policies, the Community and Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals'.

Because of the documented suffering which live exports has caused for many animals, would the Commission be prepared to withdraw the export refund grants for live exports of cattle?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1997)

The Commission accepts that serious animal welfare problems have come to light in respect of a number of reported incidents involving shipments of livestock from the Community to the Middle East and North Africa.

The Commission has examined the possibility of linking the payment of export refunds to the observance of adequate animal welfare provisions.

In this connection the Commission has recently presented a proposal ((COM(97) 161 final. )) to the Council under which the payment of export refunds would be subject to compliance by trade operators with the provisions of Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC ((OJ L 340, 11.12.1991. )).