91998E3175

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3175/98

by John Iversen (PSE) to the Commission

(12 October 1998)

Subject: Directive on zoonoses

By 1 September 1997 the Member States were supposed to have adopted the necessary laws and administrative provisions to comply with the directive on zoonoses. Which Member States met this requirement or have in the meantime done so?

What action has the Commission taken to discharge its duty to ensure implementation of EU rules in those Member States that have not satisfied this requirement?

By 1 November 1997 the Commission was supposed to have submitted to the Council a report accompanied by appropriate proposals for combating zoonoses. Why has it not complied with this provision?

When does it intend to submit the report and proposals?

By 1 January 1998 the Member States were supposed to have implemented the minimum measures laid down in the directive on zoonoses. Which Member States met this requirement or have in the meantime done so? What action has the Commission taken to discharge its duty to ensure implementation of EU rules in those Member States that have not satisfied this requirement?

By 1 March 1998 the Member States were supposed to have submitted to the Commission a plan setting out the national measures which they have implemented or intend to implement in order to achieve the objectives laid down in the directive on zoonoses. Which Member States met this requirement or have in the meantime done so? What action has the Commission taken to discharge its duty to ensure implementation of EU rules in those Member States that have not satisfied this requirement?

By 31 December 1998 at the latest, the Commission should have taken a decision on third countries' plans indicating the guarantees provided by those countries with regard to monitoring of zoonoses; if no decision is taken concerning a third country, that country is suspended from the Community list of countries allowed to export to the EU. With what third countries has a decision been taken? Does the Commission intend to respect the deadline for all third countries?

Zoonoses are one of the gravest threats to public health in the EU: how many people have fallen ill in the individual Member States from zoonoses and from which ones, and how many people have died from zoonoses and from which ones?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible.