Brussels, 03/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that on 3 February 2003, the new regulation restricting as far as possible export refunds for live animals for slaughter came into force. By eliminating 26 refund lines which have no real sales outlets in third countries, the new regulation (published in Official Journal L20 of 24 January 2003) simplifies the system and takes into account general animal welfare concerns. Export refunds for life animals will only be granted in the following two cases:
Tighter controls and penalties
On 21 January 2003 the Commission unveiled a draft regulation to tighten up controls and penalties in the event of violation of Community animal welfare during transport measures. Compulsory veterinary controls will be established in third countries for every consignment and controls in third countries will take place at the place of changing the means of transport and at the place of the first unloading in the third country of final destination.
In the July 2003 guidelines on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Commission pledged to strengthen conditions and controls on which depend the possibility of granting export subsidies for live animals.