Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission
19.10.2011
Concerning the issue of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis (‘EM’), the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its written answers to Questions E‑004928/2011 and E‑007162/2011[1].
In the course of the Commission's preparatory work on a possible delegated act on preventive health measures for the control of EM infection in dogs in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty, Sweden informed the Commission and Member States’ experts of the detection of the infection in foxes in three different areas of its territory. These findings would suggest that the infection is already widespread and very difficult or even impossible to control.
The Commission has not received from Sweden an eradication programme for EM infection in wild host animals. Therefore, the delegated regulation supplementing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 as regards preventive health measures for the control of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in dogs[2] adopted by the Commission on 14 July 2011 and submitted to the Parliament and Council for their scrutiny does not entitle Sweden to apply prevention health measures on dogs entering its territory.
OJ C 154 E, 31/05/2012