Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission
9.10.2013
1. Import of dog meat is not specifically covered by EU rules. However, legislation is in place to prevent passengers from countries such as Thailand bringing meat and other animal products into the EU. Information on the outcome of the controls carried out to prevent such introductions is gathered by the Commission and made public on the web[1]. The Commission continues to monitor the implementation of such provisions by the Member States.
2. The Commission has not received any factual information confirming that dogs are killed in the EU and their meat used for pet food production nor that movements of dogs not in conformity with applicable EU legislation takes place in relation to this practice.
3. Animal welfare legislation in, European Union has developed within the competences conferred by the Treaties and provides protection to various animals but principally to those subject to being traded as goods. The particular quality of animals being sentient beings is nonetheless underscored in Article 13 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union.
4. EU legislation on animal welfare already includes provisions on the sanctions that Member States have to apply in case of non-compliance. A recent Commission proposal for a new ‘Official controls Regulation’[2] intends inter alia to strengthen the legal provisions in place in this regard.
5. The Commission did not receive any invitation to attend the APCA meeting that took place in Hanoi on 22 and 23 August 2013.
- [1] http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/resources/wd_imports_meat_2008-2011_en.pdf
- [2] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health, plant reproductive material, plant protection products and amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, 1829/2003, 1831/2003, 1/2005, 396/2005, 834/2007, 1099/2009, 1069/2009, 1107/2009, Regulations (EU) No 1151/2012, [….]/2013, and Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC, 2008/120/EC and 2009/128/EC (Official controls Regulation). COM(2013) 265 final — 2013/0140 (COD).
OJ C 66 E, 06/03/2014