(2004/C 78 E/0016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0293/03

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 February 2003)

Subject:   Animal welfare in Greek slaughterhouses

A report by the European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office in 2000 (DG(SANCO)/1060/2000) exposed serious animal welfare problems in Greek slaughterhouses. A new film has now exposed continued serious animal welfare problems in Greek slaughterhouses. The film revealed goats being slaughtered without any attempt at pre-stunning, in breach of Council Directive 93/119/EC (1), and sheep being stunned so ineffectively that a significant proportion regain consciousness before throat-cutting, which is also in breach of Directive 93/119/EC.

What steps is the Commission planning to take to press the Greek Government to ensure that animals in Greek slaughterhouses are slaughtered in accordance with Council Directive 93/119/EC?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2003)

The Commission is aware both from past mission reports of its Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) and information supplied by animal welfare organisations that there have been serious deficiencies in ensuring respect of the requirements of Council Directive 93/119/EEC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter and killing in Greek slaughterhouses.

The poor situation in the past led the Commission to open infringement proceedings against this Member State. The FVO recently completed a follow-up mission to that mentioned by the Honourable Member. This mission was carried out between 13 and 17 January 2003. Although the final mission report is not yet available, some positive developments have occurred since the previous report. The competent Greek authorities have, for example, provided appropriate instructions to official veterinarians working in slaughterhouses in relation to animal welfare, improved the system for reporting deficiencies and recruited additional official veterinarians. The mission team indicated that in the three slaughterhouses visited, although deficiencies remained, these were not as severe as indicated in previous reports. However, the level of progress is not considered conclusive. A further follow-up FVO mission is therefore planned in 2003.

The report of the inspection will be sent to the Parliament when finalised, in accordance with the Commission's usual procedures, and will be published on the website of Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/inspections/index_en.html).

The Commission remains very concerned about the level of deficiencies in the compliance by Greece with Community Animal Welfare Legislation, and notably on inadequate enforcement of the rules. It will not fail to take such other action as is necessary to secure better observance of Community law in this domain including in particular use of the infringement procedure under article 226 of the EC Treaty.

(1)  OJ L 340, 31.12.1993, p. 21.