Commissie wil dat Griekenland, Oostenrijk en Portugal voldoen aan openheid over controles op diergezondheid (en)
The European Commission has asked Greece, Austria and Portugal to notify national implementing measures as required by the Animal Health Directive 2008/73/EC. The request takes the form of a "reasoned opinion" under EU infringement procedures. In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may decide to refer these Member States to the EU's Court of Justice.
Greece, Austria and Portugal have not communicated the measures implementing Directive 2008/73/EC.
The Directive simplifies procedures of listing and publishing information of animal health establishments. In particular, it gives the responsibility to Member States to draw up lists of approved establishments in the veterinary and zootechnical fields, keep them up-to-date and make them publicly available. In addition, the Directive obliges Member States to provide up-to-date information concerning national reference laboratories and certain other laboratories that they have designated in accordance with the relevant provisions of EU law.
The objective is to protect and raise the health status and condition of animals in the Community, in particular food-producing animals, whilst permitting intra-Community trade and imports of animals and animal products in accordance with the appropriate health standards and international obligations. As human and animal health have become more interconnected over the years, abiding by EU provisions on Animal Health also helps ensure and preserve public health.
Member States were supposed to implement Directive 2008/73/EC by January 1, 2010, but Greece, Austria and Portugal have failed to do so.
The Commission initiated the infringement procedure, described in Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), early this year by sending a letter of formal notice to the three Member States. By the sending of a "Reasoned Opinion," the Commission formally requests those Member States to take action to comply with EU law within a period of two months. Subsequently, the Commission may decide to refer the Member States to the ECJ if action to ensure compliance is not taken.
For more information on the infringement procedure, please see: MEMO/10/530
For more information on animal health legislation, please visit: