Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
12.2.2018
1. Data available to the Commission on the total number of live animal consignments per species covers only intra-EU trade. It includes only export consignments if the transport goes through at least two EU Member States prior to leaving the EU. As it also does not include all non-EU Countries and direct exports are not mandatorily included, this data is not representative of the total number of live animal exports.
Data is available for exports (from 2003) per kg, but not per number of consignments[1].
2. In a judgment in 2015 (Case C-424/13) the Court of Justice of the European Union[2] ruled that the journey plan for transport of live animals to non-EU countries must fully cover the non-EU leg of the journey. Similarly, in Case C-383/16 the Court of Justice ruled that a copy of the journey log must also be kept for the extra-Union part of the journey[3]. Whilst non-EU countries are not bound by EU regulations enforcement of EU transport rules on the non-EU leg of the journey to transports from the EU falls under the competence of Member States' national authorities.
The Commission provides financial support for the implementation of the Animal Welfare Action Plan for Middle East countries for 2016-2019 of the World Organisation for Animal Health[4], in particular for its activities related to the protection of animals during transport and at slaughter.
3. While the Commission is strongly committed to international trade based on values such as animal welfare it also accepts that the trade of live animals is an integral part of modern agriculture. Therefore, the Commission is not considering reducing the export of live animals but is dedicated to improving animal welfare during transport and to assisting Member States in implementing the EU legislation[5] in the area.
- [1] http://trade.ec.europa.eu/tradehelp/statistics
- [2] http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-424/13
- [3] http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=fr&jur=C,T,F&num=C-383/16&td=ALL
- [4] http://www.rr-middleeast.oie.int/download/pdf/AW%20Final.pdf
- [5] Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 (OJ L 3, 5.1.2005, p.1).