Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001983/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Martin Häusling (Verts/ALE)
Under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429, payable certificates for official health checks have applied to all cross-border consignments of kept birds between Member States since 2021. The costs involved range between EUR 70 and EUR 250. Those costs place a considerable burden on hobby keepers when attending animal shows and have cut cross-border participation to almost zero. They also pose obstacles within the EU that threaten the preservation of rare and old breeds. In the case of pedigree poultry shows, documentation is provided by the show management: the animals are ringed and the corresponding keepers’ addresses and registration numbers are recorded.
- 1.Does the Commission intend to cut red tape for cross-border pedigree poultry consignments for the purposes of registered animal shows and do away with the obligation to carry out veterinary health checks?
- 2.Does the Commission agree that the commercial transport of commercial poultry – which involves large quantities, high frequency and long distances – differs from hobby pedigree poultry breeding, meaning the TRACES requirements should not apply to hobby keepers?
- 3.What steps does the Commission intend to take to support breeders of traditional poultry breeds transported across borders, or would breeders’ self-declarations and corresponding documentation, along with animal show documentation, be be an appropriate replacement for TRACES in the hobby sector?
Submitted: 16.5.2025