Stockfarming: prohibition of certain substances having a hormonal or thyreostatic action and of beta-agonists

The European Parliament adopted, by 692 votes to 2 with 11 abstentions, a legislative resolution making some amendments to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/22/EC concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyreostatic action and of beta-agonists. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Karin SCHEELE (PES, AT) on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

The main amendments – adopted under the 1st reading of the codecsion procedure – are as follows:

-the definition of 'therapeutic treatment' has been amended;

-Member States should be allowed to authorise the use of beta-agonists to treat respiratory problems, navicular disease and laminitis in horse raised for purposes other than meat production since alternatives are limited;

-the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States, shall set up an information and awareness campaign on the complete ban on the use of oestradiol 17 ß in food producing animals, aimed at farmers and veterinary organisations in the EU as well as the relevant organisations outside the EU which are directly or indirectly involved in the export to the EU of food of animal origin falling within the scope of this Directive; 

-Annex II is amended to clarify that beta-agonist, although prohibited in general, may be used in certain specific cases;

-lastly, transposition of the Directive should be by 1 January 2009 (rather than 1 July 2007).