Beef and veal: common organisation of the market COM (amend. regul. 805/68/EEC)

The Committee, in adopting the report by Sirkka-Liisa ANTTILA (ELDR, Fin), made clear its desire to go further than the Commission on the issue of animal welfare. The Commission's proposal to amend the basic regulation governing the beef and veal market would make refunds on the export of live animals subject to compliance with EU animal welfare standards. The Committee agrees with this aim but believes that inspections should be more rigorous and standards more clearly spelt out. It wants the payment of refunds to be subject to confirmation by a veterinary certificate that the animals have been "properly transported" and wishes to see a monitoring system incorporating regular, random spot checks introduced. The inspections could be carried out by official bodies approved by the Commission, the Food and Veterinary Office or the Member States, and the Commission should submit a report on the effectiveness of these monitoring procedures two years after they are introduced. In addition, MEPs want the Commission to lay down the detailed implementing rules governing the application of these rules to exports to third countries only after it has consulted the European Parliament, the parties concerned and the competent authorities. Furthermore, they believe that the provisions governing the welfare of live animals must also apply to European imports from non-EU countries. Where transport conditions fail to comply with Community standards, preferential import tariffs should be withdrawn. Lastly, inspections carried out in third countries should be targeted and organized by a neutral independent body. �