Market in eggs and poultrymeat: exceptional support measures where restrictions are placed on free circulation in case of animal diseases and a drop in consumption (amend. Regulations (EEC) No 2771/75 and (EEC) No 2777/75)

The European Parliament approved the Commission proposal that would create a legal base for compensating farmers who have been hurt by the sudden decrease in consumer demand for eggs and poultry meat.

It adopted a few amendments to the proposal. These include explicit mention of emergency vaccination as an alternate method of stamping out the disease, a wish to restrict the emergency measures to "circumstances that pose a threat to livelihoods," and a call to avoid "inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals."  MEPs also call for an "information campaign designed to re-establish consumer confidence," and took the opportunity presented by this proposal to express their view that "export refunds are not a valid means of remedying market disturbances."