The EU Animal Health Law
On 6 May 2013, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a single, comprehensive animal health law to replace the complicated animal health rules currently in place.
The animal health law is part of a package of measures to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards for the whole agri-food chain.
It is particularly linked to the proposal on official controls, as a high level of health along the agri-food chain depends on consistent, effective and timely enforcement of EU standards by the Member States.
The animal health law proposal is an important part of the Animal Health Strategy 2007-2013, “Prevention is better than cure” and has been done in consultation with interested parties among them with key European stakeholders in the Animal Health Advisory Committee.
On 11th of February, 2014, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) of the European Parliament has voted on the amendments to the proposal of the EU Commission for an Animal Health Law. Most of the suggested amendments have been presented by MEP Paulsen as rapporteur, and by MEP Jeggle as shadow Rapporteur. The ENVI and PECH Committees have also presented some amendments.
The amended text will be submitted to the plenary session in April 2014 and only after this vote the definitive version of the Animal Health Law will be adopted. .
More control of the EU Parliament
The MEPs clearly expressed the need for more control on the emergency measures that the EU Commission can take without any consultation of stakeholders and the other EU institutions.
Stray Animals
Stray Animals are not falling under the scope of "wild animals". MEPs voted in favor of amendments requiring the creation of a new category: the non-owned animals of domesticated species. This is crucial not to let abandoned and not owned animals fall under the category of wild animals, in order to avoid a massive eradication of them, like it can be done with the so-called "invasive alien species". Dogs have to be considered as domestic animals, even if they are not anymore under humane direct control. It is not acceptable to create a two-class system for dogs, depending if they have an owner or not.
Identification and Registration
For the first time at the EU Level, MEPs have voted in favor of one amendment requiring Member States to establish for January 2018 a mandatory system of registration of all dogs. There is no distinction between stray and owned dogs in the text.
Moreover, until July 2019, the EU Commission will have to create a report on the experience gained by Member States by establishing these databases, and on the basis of this report, the EU Commission will have to make a proposal for the creation of a EU database for registration of dogs.
Next Steps
The draft legislation on the prevention and control of animal diseases, being steered through Parliament by Marit Paulsen (ALDE, SE), was adopted by 31 votes to 6, with 3 abstentions.
The draft legislation on protective measures against plant pests, being steered through Parliament by Hynek Fajmon (ECR, CZ), was adopted by 24 votes to 11, with two abstentions.
Both texts will be scrutinised by the full House at the March or April plenary session.
For more information, please see the press release.
- The huge number of legal acts relating to animal health would be streamlined into a single law.
- Simpler and clearer rules would free up time, enabling authorities and those having to follow the rules to focus on key priorities: preventing and eradicating disease.
- Responsibilities would be clarified for farms, vets and others dealing with animals.
- The new rules would allow greater use of new technologies for animal health activities - surveillance of pathogens, electronic identification and registration of animals.
- Better early detection & control of animal diseases, including emerging diseases linked to climate change, would help the EU meet with international standards.
- There would be more flexibility to adjust rules to local circumstances, and to emerging issues such as climate and social change.
The animal health law is part of a package of measures to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards for the whole agri-food chain.
It is particularly linked to the proposal on official controls, as a high level of health along the agri-food chain depends on consistent, effective and timely enforcement of EU standards by the Member States.
The animal health law proposal is an important part of the Animal Health Strategy 2007-2013, “Prevention is better than cure” and has been done in consultation with interested parties among them with key European stakeholders in the Animal Health Advisory Committee.
On 11th of February, 2014, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) of the European Parliament has voted on the amendments to the proposal of the EU Commission for an Animal Health Law. Most of the suggested amendments have been presented by MEP Paulsen as rapporteur, and by MEP Jeggle as shadow Rapporteur. The ENVI and PECH Committees have also presented some amendments.
The amended text will be submitted to the plenary session in April 2014 and only after this vote the definitive version of the Animal Health Law will be adopted. .
More control of the EU Parliament
The MEPs clearly expressed the need for more control on the emergency measures that the EU Commission can take without any consultation of stakeholders and the other EU institutions.
Stray Animals
Stray Animals are not falling under the scope of "wild animals". MEPs voted in favor of amendments requiring the creation of a new category: the non-owned animals of domesticated species. This is crucial not to let abandoned and not owned animals fall under the category of wild animals, in order to avoid a massive eradication of them, like it can be done with the so-called "invasive alien species". Dogs have to be considered as domestic animals, even if they are not anymore under humane direct control. It is not acceptable to create a two-class system for dogs, depending if they have an owner or not.
Identification and Registration
For the first time at the EU Level, MEPs have voted in favor of one amendment requiring Member States to establish for January 2018 a mandatory system of registration of all dogs. There is no distinction between stray and owned dogs in the text.
Moreover, until July 2019, the EU Commission will have to create a report on the experience gained by Member States by establishing these databases, and on the basis of this report, the EU Commission will have to make a proposal for the creation of a EU database for registration of dogs.
Next Steps
The draft legislation on the prevention and control of animal diseases, being steered through Parliament by Marit Paulsen (ALDE, SE), was adopted by 31 votes to 6, with 3 abstentions.
The draft legislation on protective measures against plant pests, being steered through Parliament by Hynek Fajmon (ECR, CZ), was adopted by 24 votes to 11, with two abstentions.
Both texts will be scrutinised by the full House at the March or April plenary session.
For more information, please see the press release.