91998E3034

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3034/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Illegal traffic in live lambs intended for butchers in Greece

Following reports by the EFAP (Hellenic Anti-hunting Initiative), I would like to draw the Commission's attention to the problem of the illegal traffic in live lambs intended for butchers in Greece.

We have information showing that around 1 000 lambs enter Greece daily through the ports of Igoumenitsa and Patras. The legal requirement that stops be made at 14-hour intervals during transportation to water and feed the lambs is ignored. The animals travel for 60 or more hours without water, food or rest. 25 % of the animals are already dead when they arrive in Greece (and there are reasons to believe that these animals are also sold for their meat). Some lorries carry more than 200 lambs, and others, with trailers, carry 400 lambs. They all operate a fourth deck, in addition to the standard three decks, installed under the lorry. The lambs crammed in between the wheels often die, and in any case become demented. Half of the lambs observed in the course of the checks carried out by EFAP did not have an eartag, the label attached to the ear that certifies that the animal has been checked by a vet in the country of origin, and were therefore of unknown origin. Some of them were diseased. Furthermore, half of the animals had horns, which the law does not allow because animals with horns injure each other during transportation, and by the end of the journey some had been torn to shreds. According to the observations made by EFAP, the haulage companies transporting the lambs are Dutch (Maes and Van Veen) but many of the lorries appear to be Greek and have Greek drivers.

In view of these reports and since the Greek police, which has been told about the situation on many occasions, is turning a blind eye to the problem, will the Commission check whether or not Directive 91/628/EC(1), amended by Directive 95/29/EC(2), on the protection of animals during transport, is being complied with in Greece, and, if it is shown that the directive is being contravened, would it not consider it appropriate to initiate an infringement procedure against Greece?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1998)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that if the information he gives about the transport is correct, it constitutes a breach of Community legislation, including Council Directive 91/628/EEC of 19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC and 91/496/EEC(3).

The Commission will contact the Greek authorities about this matter. Furthermore the Commission would be grateful to receive a copy of the reports to which the Honourable Member refers.

(1) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.

(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991.