Parliamentary question - E-8264/2010Parliamentary question
E-8264/2010

Discrimination between Danish and German breeding dogs

Question for written answer E-8264/2010
to the Commission
Rule 117
Dan Jørgensen (S&D)

The Danish Kennel Club (DKK) is not prepared to accept Danish breeding dogs which have their joints x‑rayed for hip dysplasia (HD) in Germany. If the dogs are x‑rayed in Germany, the DKK refuses to accept them for breeding purposes, even though dogs from both Germany and Denmark are x‑rayed for HD in accordance with the FCI Protocol.

The DKK has no problem accepting dogs from Germany, as it enters in the pedigree register the offspring of German Shepherd (Alsatian) bitches which have been x‑rayed for HD and assessed in Germany. It also accepts dogs from Germany when it allows Danish bitches to be mated with German breeding dogs, which are allowed to have their hips approved by the DKK. The above situation therefore constitutes discrimination and distortion of competition both between Danish and German Alsatian dogs and between Danish and German citizens. Accordingly, the Danish Kennel Club appears to be in breach of Article 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which applies to all services provided for payment, including services provided by private firms.

Will the Commission therefore investigate whether there has been a breach of Article 56 TFEU?

Will the Commission also investigate to what extent the DKK is infringing Directive 91/174/EEC[1] of 25 March 1991 which requires Member States to ensure that the DKK (inter alia) is not imposing discriminatory criteria on acceptance for breeding purposes?

If the Commission finds that the DKK is in breach of the abovementioned rules, what will it do to prevent such infringements from taking place in future?

OJ C 243 E, 20/08/2011