Written question – Conditions for CITES certification of brown bear meat in Slovakia – P-002233/2025

Priority question for written answer  P-002233/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Michal Wiezik (Renew)

Slovakia authorised the culling of 350 bears following an amendment of the emergency law allowing the culling of brown bears in 55 of the country’s 79 districts.

Last week[1] a decision about the sale of bear meat was taken. As the Slovak populations of brown bear are listed in Appendix II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the meat will need to be certified in order to be sold.

• 1.What action, if any, is the Commission considering taking in relation to the Slovak emergency law vis-à-vis the provisions of the Habitats Directive[2]?
• 2.If the Commission launches an infringement action, would it have any impact on the legality of proceeds and products (meat) from the culled brown bears and CITES certification?
• 3.If infringement proceedings are launched, even if they would not affect the legality of bear meat sales, could the Commission nevertheless impose interim measures putting on hold any CITES certification and barring the sale of the meat from brown bears culled in Slovakia?

Submitted: 4.6.2025

• [1] Mäso z problémových medveďov bude dodávané do reštaurácií. Musí však spĺňať podmienky, avizuje F. Kuffa, TASR, 27 May 2025. Available at: https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/969937-maeso-z-problemovych-medvedov-bude-dodavane-do-restauracii-musi-vsak-splnat-podmienky-avizuje-f-kuffa?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKieHVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtyX0ev2JZ_0-dvREf5rRo5OdES1MLUSM4Gt-H7feLwiZsWN_WUJwqWLCpLc_aem_BB6rpar2R0RjCK6aQ7RIsg&campaignsrc=tn_clipboard#Echobox=1748341100. Also reported by the BBC at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gkpy3x3ndo.
• [2] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj.