Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission
17.1.2013
At the 24 October 2012 international conference on the protection of animals in slaughterhouses[1], the Commission presented data collected from the Member States from June to September 2011.
Since Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing[2] applies since 1 January 2013, it is premature at this stage to consider that most Member States were not ready to implement the new legislation. A close analysis of the data shows that they have been working on the subject and some implementation measures are still ongoing.
The Commission has contributed to facilitate the duties of Member States by launching an investigation on their level of preparedness and by organising with the Council Presidency this conference which was widely attended.
The Commission will continue to work in the future both in supporting the understanding of the new regulation and in monitoring the situation in particular through audits of its experts from the Commission inspection service of the Health and Consumers Directorate General, DG SANCO, (FVO — Food and Veterinary Office) to ensure that Member States abide by the rules.
OJ C 330 E, 14/11/2013