Urgent request to close down the Green Hill breeding centre for dogs used for vivisection, in Montichiari (Brescia)
19.12.2011
Question for written answer E-012417/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Andrea Zanoni (ALDE)
For several years now, many European citizens have been carefully following, with great concern, events relating to one of the largest breeding centres for beagle dogs destined to be sold to laboratories carrying out the cruel practice of vivisection.
The centre in question is the ‘Green Hill 2001 Srl’ breeding centre, in Montichiari (Brescia), where, on 30 September 2011, an inspection was carried out at the order of an Italian court. The inspection brought to light the lack of a company register — in breach of Article 17 of Directive 86/609/EEC and Article 30 of Directive 2010/63/EU — in which sales, supplies and animal deaths were supposed to be recorded. The inspection also revealed that as many as 400 already weaned beagles bore no identification marks, in breach of Article 32 of Directive 2010/63/EU.
For these infringements, Italian legislation (Legislative Decree No 116/1992), in addition to Article 44(3) of Directive 2010/63/UE, provides for the breeding centre's operating licence to be withdrawn. However, this has not been done by the mayor of the Municipality of Montichiari, who is the competent authority in this case.
On the basis of these infringements, the International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA) has submitted an application to the Mayor of Montichiari for the centre to be closed.
Is the Commission aware of these events which have had a great impact on Italian and European public opinion? Does it not agree that this breeding centre should be closed down as a matter of urgency, to comply with the provisions of the abovementioned legislation? Can it say when the veterinarians from the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU (FVO) last came on mission to Italy to inspect breeding centres for animals destined for vivisection laboratories, and what the outcome of that inspection was? Last but not least, can it specify the exact number of dog breeding centres for vivisection purposes in the EU and say whether these facilities comply with EU animal welfare rules and with Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon?
OJ C 285 E, 21/09/2012