Document type: Written answer from the European Commission
Authors: question: Caroline Roose (Verts/ALE), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE) Answer: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission.
Question: Although they do not forbid the production of foie gras as such, Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes and Council of Europe recommendations on protection of ducks and geese kept for production of foie gras set out clear conditions to ensure production complies with certain animal welfare requirements.
Point 14 of the Annex to Directive 98/58/EC requires Member States to ensure that ‘animals must be fed a wholesome diet’, and that ‘no animal shall be provided with food or liquid in a manner, nor shall such food or liquid contain any substance, which may cause unnecessary suffering or injury’. All independent scientific studies state that fattening by gavage does cause animals unnecessary suffering or injury. The only study to disagree, conducted by INRA, the French national institute of agronomic research, was undermined by conflicts of interest and its methodology has been questioned.
- Does the Commission agree that Point 14 of the Annex to Directive 98/58/EC is inconsistent with recourse to fattening by gavage?
- If not, on what independent scientific basis can that case be made?
Answer: Both requirements of Directive 98/58/EC quoted by the Honourable Member are still applicable.
It should however be noted that the production of foie gras is recognised by some Member States as part of their cultural traditions and regional heritage. It is therefore compatible with Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which states that the EU and Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare of animals while respecting Member States’ cultural traditions and regional heritage.
As mentioned in the reply to Question E-008436/2016, Member States are not under an obligation to report to the Commission on research on alternatives to force-feeding, nor does the Commission under the applicable legislation hold the task of regularly and systematically gathering such data.
