Foie gras — animal welfare framework

15.5.2013

Question for written answer E-005380-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Dan Jørgensen (S&D)

Force-feeding for foie gras production is prohibited in some EU countries because of the cruelty involved for ducks and geese. Council Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes states that ‘no animal shall be provided with food or liquid in a manner […] which may cause unnecessary suffering or injury’. Thus, force-feeding does not comply with EU minimum standards for the protection of animals.

1. Is the Commission considering legislation that will prohibit force-feeding?

2. Is the Commission familiar with research on alternative feeding methods that do not include gavage (tube feeding)?

3. How many foie gras production sites has the Commission inspected in France and Hungary — the two Member States known to produce foie gras — since February 2010?

4. What share of the total number of foie gras production sites in the two countries has been inspected?

OJ C 40 E, 11/02/2014