91999E0151

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/99

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Implications of the ban on exports of bulls for bullfighting

With reference to my question E-3620/98, the Commission should bear in mind what was written by Ana Fernandez Graciani in issue No 23 of the magazine "Toros", of 15 December 1998:

"Just like last year, when the heavens gave valuable assistance to livestock farmers who were in a desperate situation by sending them a splendid year of rainfall, Spanish breeders of bulls for bullfighting will this season face less competition when they come to sell their products since the closing of the border with Portugal because of 'mad cow' disease will result in a significant reduction in the total supply of bulls."

However, will Community law allow this "miracle", which goes against the rules on competition in a single market and which will change a measure intended to protect human health into one which protects the economic interests of Spanish livestock farmers, against all the provisions of, for example, Article 30 (ex Article 36) of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 1999)

As already stated in the answer to the Honourable Member's Written Question E-3620/98(1), the purpose of Commission Decision 98/653/EC, of 18 November 1998, concerning emergency measures made necessary by the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Portugal(2) is to protect human and animal health. Any request to exempt fighting bulls from the general ban to move live bovine animals out of Portugal must be examined in the light of the likelihood that the animals will enter the food or feed chain and of the possibilities to prevent fraud.

The Commission does not share the view of the Honourable Member that there is a commercial objective to the decision to restrict the trade from the Member State concerned.

(1) OJ C 320, 6.11.1999, p. 60.

(2) OJ L 311, 20.11.1998.