REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals as regards the extension of the transitional period

29.2.2008 - (COM(2007)0572 – C6‑0334/2007 – 2007/0202(COD)) - ***I

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Rapporteur: Miroslav Ouzký

Procedure : 2007/0202(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A6-0051/2008
Texts tabled :
A6-0051/2008
Debates :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals as regards the extension of the transitional period

(COM(2007)0572 – C6‑0334/2007 – 2007/0202(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2007)0572),

–   having regard to Articles 251(2), 37 and 152(4)(b) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6‑0334/2007),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A6‑0051/2008),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation – amending act

Article 1 - point 1

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003

Article 6 – paragraph 1– introductory phrase

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Until 31 August 2009, the entry of the pet animals listed in Part A of Annex I into the territory of Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom shall be subject to the following requirements:

Until 30 June 2010, the entry of the pet animals listed in Part A of Annex I into the territory of Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom shall be subject to the following requirements:

Justification

The proposed extension of the transitional period may not be sufficiently long to obtain agreement on a successor regime and a longer one is more appropriate given there is still no proposal on the table and the European Parliament will be dissolved for elections in 2009.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation – amending act

Article 1 - point 2

Regulation(EC) No 998/2003

Article 16 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Until 31 August 2009, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as regards echinococcosis, and Ireland and the United Kingdom, as regards ticks, may make the entry of pet animals into their territory subject to compliance with the special rules in place on the date on which this Regulation comes into force.

Until 30 June 2010, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as regards echinococcosis, and Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom, as regards ticks, may make the entry of pet animals into their territory subject to compliance with the special rules in place on the date on which this Regulation comes into force.

Justification

This amendment aims at completing the list of countries applying already special requirements concerning ticks with Malta. By mistake in the Commission proposal the name of Malta had not been mentioned amongst those Member States having already a special regime in place regarding anti-tick treatment.

The proposed extension of the transitional period may not be sufficiently long to obtain agreement on a successor regime and a longer one is more appropriate given there is still no proposal on the table and the European Parliament will be dissolved for elections in 2009.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a regulation – amending act

Article 1 - point 3

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003

Article 23

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) In Article 23, the date "1 January 2008"' is replaced by the date "1 September 2009".

(3) In Article 23, the date "1 January 2008"' is replaced by the date "1 July 2010".

Justification

see justification to amendment to Article 1 - point 1.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Regulation (EC) NO.998/2003 harmonises the rules for the non-commercial movements of pet animals between Member States or after entry or re-entry into the Community from third countries. This Regulation introduced amongst others the pet passport for cats, dogs and ferrets when moving from one Member State to another and which has to carry the proof i.a. that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. The Regulation provides however for temporary derogations which some Member States can apply until 3 July 2008 (Art 6(1) and 16).

Article 6(3) provides the possibility to extend this transitional period by way of legislation but this should be based on a report by the European Commission to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council (Article 23) before 1 February 2007.

This report could not be submitted in due time .Pending the submission of the report but also given the time needed for a possible, more comprehensive review of the Regulation the Commission proposes to extend the current derogations until 31 August 2009.

PROCEDURE

Title

Animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals

References

COM(2007)0572 – C6-0334/2007 – 2007/0202(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

8.10.2007

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

ENVI

11.10.2007

Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)

       Date announced in plenary

AGRI

11.10.2007

 

 

 

Not delivering opinions

       Date of decision

AGRI

21.11.2007

 

 

 

Rapporteur(s)

       Date appointed

Miroslav Ouzký

31.1.2008

 

 

Discussed in committee

25.2.2008

 

 

 

Date adopted

26.2.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

34

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Margrete Auken, Irena Belohorská, Johannes Blokland, John Bowis, Magor Imre Csibi, Chris Davies, Avril Doyle, Mojca Drčar Murko, Edite Estrela, Jill Evans, Matthias Groote, Satu Hassi, Gyula Hegyi, Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Dan Jørgensen, Christa Klaß, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Urszula Krupa, Linda McAvan, Roberto Musacchio, Riitta Myller, Miroslav Ouzký, Guido Sacconi, Karin Scheele, Carl Schlyter, Antonios Trakatellis, Thomas Ulmer, Anja Weisgerber, Glenis Willmott

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, Hélène Goudin, Genowefa Grabowska, Jutta Haug, Johannes Lebech