The production of foie gras

Reply to Written question | Doc. 14286 | 10 April 2017

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1283rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (5 April 2017). 2017 - Second part-session

Reply to Written question

: Written question no. 719 (Doc. 14214)

1. In reply to the question from the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Committee of Ministers refers to its two previous replies on the subject. In view of the Organisation’s continuing budgetary constraints and rationalisation of priorities, there are no plans, as matters stand, to assign this part of the Council of Europe's activities to a different body of the Organisation.

2. It is recalled that the European Convention for the protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes establishes the principle that a recommendation by the Standing Committee, adopted by unanimity of the votes cast (Article 8, paragraph 5 of the Convention), shall take effect on the expiry of a period of six months following its adoption. From this date, States Parties must implement it, unless they indicate to the Standing Committee the reasons why it has been decided not to do so (Article 9, paragraph 3 of the Convention).

3. During the examination of the present written question, the delegation of France informed the Committee of Ministers that the French authorities had adopted binding provisions on the housing of animals kept for the production of foie gras by decree of 21 April 2015 with a view to developing current husbandry practices to take greater account of animal welfare. Along these lines, France recently adopted a new global strategy for animal welfare in France covering the period 2016-2020, dealing inter alia with the husbandry of palmipeds for foie gras production.

4. Furthermore, the delegation of France recalled for the record, that in a judgment C-1/96 of 19 March 1998, the Court of Justice of the European Communities ruled with regard to the recommendations’ effects with respect to European Union legislation, that recommendations made in application of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes are not legally binding.