§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the measures taken by the European Union in respect of animal welfare in each of the last three years. [24525]
§ Mr. MorleyThe measures adopted by the European Union in respect of animal welfare over the three years 1995–1997 in my Department's area of responsibility have been
Council Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the welfare of animals during transport.Council Directive 97/2/EC of 20 January 1997 amending Directive 91/629/EEC laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves.Commission Decision 97/182/EC of 24 February 1997 amending the Annex to Directive 91/629/EEC laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves.Council Regulation (EC) No. 1255/97 of 25 June 1997 concerning Community criteria for staging points and amending the route plan referred to in the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the welfare of animals during transport.The Protocol to the Treaty of Rome agreed at the 1997 Inter Governmental Conference in Amsterdam recognising that animals are sentient beings and placing on EU institutions a formal obligation to pay full regard to animal welfare when developing Community policies on agriculture, transport, the internal market and research.