Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
1.12.2014
Bisons (Bison bison) are bovine animals under the relevant EU legislation on identification and registration of bovine animals[1] and on intra-EU trade in bovine animals[2]. Bisons are also domestic food producing bovine animals in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004[3] of the European Parliament and of the Council. However, for public health purposes they may be considered wild game if they were kept under conditions of freedom similar to those of wild game and were hunted instead of slaughtered for human consumption under the applicable law in the Member State concerned.
From an animal health point of view bisons are included in the definition of bovine animals in Council Directive 64/432/EEC and must comply with the relevant health requirements, including testing. These animal health requirements are also the basis for specific trade rules laid down in Council Directive 92/65/EEC[4] for bisons kept in zoos, wildlife parks and similar institutions where bison is kept not for food production but for education purposes, display to the public or research.
Regulation EC No 1760/2000 does not foresee any derogation allowing the identification of bovine animals beyond nine months after birth. This regulation establishes that the ear tag shall be applied within a period to be determined by the Member State as from the birth of the animal and in any case that period may not be longer than 20 days.
Therefore, the whole set of these rules, in particular those related to identification, including application of eartags, and testing regimes and test procedures like the tuberculin skin test for bovine tuberculosis and tests for other diseases are applicable to the farming of American bison.
- [1] Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and replacing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1).
- [2] Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64).
- [3] Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55).
- [4] Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54).