Transmissible animal diseases

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the recommendation for second reading contained in the report by Jasenko SELIMOVIC (ADLE, SE) on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health ("Animal Health Law").

The committee recommended that the European Parliament should approve the Council position at first reading. It also approved the joint statement by Parliament, the Council and the Commission on antimicrobial resistance and the use of veterinary medicinal products, annexed to this resolution.

Based on the Communication from the Commission entitled "Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance", this joint statement called upon the Member States to commit themselves to collect relevant, comparable and sufficiently detailed data on the actual use of antimicrobial medicinal products in animals and to send such data to the Commission in order to ensure a more prudent use of antimicrobial medicinal products in animals, hence contributing to the reduction of the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Members also took note of two Commission statements in which the Commission:

• undertakes to publish a regular report as regards the use of antimicrobial medicinal products in animals in the EU on the basis of data made available by the Member States;
• affirms that it is fully committed to paying full regard to animal welfare (although the proposed Regulation does not contain specific provisions on animal welfare), including ensuring full implementation and appropriate development of this legislation.