11. We have given further
consideration to the following on the basis of a Supplementary
Explanatory Memorandum. We maintain our opinion[29]
that it raises questions of political importance, but now make
no recommendation for its further consideration:-
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
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(17808)
12986/96
COM(96)708
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- a proposal for a Council Decision concerning minimum requirements for certain staging points; and
- a proposal for a Council Decision amending the Annex of Directive 91/628/EEC, concerning the routeplan.
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Legal base:
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Article 43; qualified majority voting.
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Background
11.1 When we first considered
this proposal, we asked the Department to tell us: what other
elements of the welfare package had still to be put forward by
the Commission; the Compliance Cost Assessment for the current
proposal; and the potential cost to the high health status UK
pig industry if the proposals were not amended. We also asked
whether other countries faced similar difficulties.
The Supplementary Explanatory
Memorandum
11.2 In her Supplementary
Explanatory Memorandum of 6 March, the Parliamentary Secretary
(Commons) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mrs
Browning) says that the only other proposals awaited are on the
rest period required for animals at an approved market or assembly
centre if the premises concerned are to be regarded as the place
of departure for a new journey. This period is to be set under
powers delegated to the Commission in consultation with the Standing
Veterinary Committee.
11.3 We are told that
the industry is being consulted on the compliance cost. The Parliamentary
Secretary considers that the requirement for staging points to
be set up would not be a difficulty within the UK, as it could,
to a large extent, be met by existing assembly centres. The costs
(which have been quoted as around 10p per sheep for a 10 hour
stay, including veterinary supervision and checks) would be passed
on to the providers of the staging facilities and would be likely
to be relatively insignificant compared with those stemming from
the requirement already introduced to rest animals for 24 hours
on long journeys. The Parliamentary Secretary says that, if establishments
already approved can be used, this would enable agreed standards
and a proper system of supervision to be put in place. This would
bring improvements to the welfare of production animals on long
journeys, including those coming into the Community from Eastern
Europe and those transitting the Community en route for
North Africa, where serious welfare problems have been documented.
Effect on the pig industry
11.4 The Parliamentary
Secretary indicates that Denmark, Ireland, France, Belgium, Finland,
The Netherlands and Germany have a trade in breeding animals which
could be adversely affected by the requirement to unload animals.
Ireland and Denmark have been the Member States most supportive
of the UK, indicating that the problem is greatest in countries
distant from the final destination of the breeding pigs. The
Parliamentary Secretary reiterates the point that the unloading
of high health status pigs at staging points would make it impossible
to preserve the value of the pigs. In consequence pig breeders
currently located in the UK could well have to relocate to the
continent: "However this is an eventuality which the Government
intends to avoid by securing a suitable modification to the proposals."
Conclusion
11.5 We hope that
the Commission will bring forward as soon as possible the remainder
of the welfare package for production animals, including the resting
time required before onward movement. The proposals on assembly
points are unlikely to require major expenditure and would help
the welfare of such animals. We share the Government's concern
about the adverse affect of the proposal on high health status
pigs because these, if unloaded, would be subject to contamination
which would undermine their disease-free status.
11.6 We note that
there are other countries with similar difficulties, and we also
note the Government's intention to seek a solution to the problem,
which could have serious consequences for a valuable part of the
pig industry. On the basis of the further information in the
Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum, we are now clearing the
document.
29 (17808) 12986/96; see HC 36-xi (1996-97), paragraph 14 (29 January 1997). Back
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