Monitoring of the recommendations on foie gras production

29.8.2019

Question for written answer E-002575-19
to the Commission
Rule 138
Petra De Sutter (Verts/ALE)

Two recommendations relevant to foie gras production were adopted by the Standing Committee of the European Convention on the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes in 1999.

These are the ‘Recommendation concerning Muscovy ducks and hybrids of Muscovy and domestic ducks’ and the ‘Recommendation concerning domestic geese and their crossbreeds’.

The Convention was approved on behalf of the European Union by Council Decision 78/923/EEC. Both recommendations contain the same provision under Articles 24(2) and 25(2) respectively, stating that ‘Until new scientific evidence on alternative methods and their welfare aspects is available, the production of foie gras shall be carried out only where it is current practice and then only in accordance with standards laid down in domestic law.

In any case, the competent authorities shall monitor this type of production to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the recommendation’.

Is the Commission one of the abovementioned ‘competent authorities’?

If so, how is it monitoring foie gras production in Europe ‘to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the recommendation’?

If it is not one of the ‘competent authorities’, why is this the case?