1. In reply to the
Honourable Parliamentarian, the Committee of Ministers would underline
that the validity of the Standing Committee’s recommendations is
governed by Article 9, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the European Convention
for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (ETS No. 087)
which states that as from the date when a recommendation becomes
effective, each Contracting Party must either implement it or inform the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe of the reasons why it
has decided that it cannot or can no longer implement the recommendation.
Furthermore, if two or more Contracting Parties have given notice
of their decision not to implement a recommendation or no longer
to implement it, the recommendation in question shall cease to have
effect. Consequently, in the absence of such notification, these
recommendations remain valid.
2. In 2006, the Standing Committee decided that given existing
resources it would not be appropriate to undertake further revisions
of recommendations adopted. In view of the Organisation’s continuing
budgetary constraints and rationalisation of the priorities, the
functioning of the Standing Committee and the related activities
have been suspended since 2010.
