Q: MEP Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (EPP, RO)- Animal Health Legislation (2020-11-20)
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases (‘Animal Health Law’) will apply from 21 April 2021.
The regulation seeks to improve animal health standards and create a common system to detect and control disease and tackle health, food and feed safety risks. In order for the new rules to become applicable, the Commission needed to adopt a large number of delegated and implementing acts. However, it was not possible to adopt all of them by June 2020 as scheduled and a number of them are still in the pipeline. Furthermore, the Member States are still required to consult the social partners on the application of the new rules, a process hampered by the current health crisis.
1. With less than six months to go before the new provisions are due to enter into force, does the Commission believe that Member States will be able to implement them in time to prevent any adverse effects for farmers?
2. Would the Commission consider postponing by one year the entry into force of this regulation, given its importance for efficient animal health management, the improved functioning of the single market and trade relations with third countries?
A: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the Commission
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases (‘Animal Health Law’)(1) entered into force on 21 April 2016 and will apply from 21 April 2021. Member States have had five years to prepare for the new requirements, and while it is true that there were some delays in adopting certain delegated acts, these were all extensively discussed between 2017 and 2019 and presented for various consultations. All acts were available to the Member States’ competent authorities well before their publication. The Commission is confident about the capacity of the Member States to implement this legislation on time, taking also into account that all these acts are directly applicable and do not require transposition. The Commission is not in favour of postponing the date of application of the Animal Health Law, as this would cause delays in the implementation of various animal health measures that have been called for by European stakeholders, as well as of directly related official control measures. The Commission will provide Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF)(2) in order to support public authorities with the implementation. | ||||
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