Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
EU Affairs
Period
1 May, 2021 to 31 Aug, 2021
Specific Details
European Parliament COMENVI motion for resolution : EPRUMA calls for science and animal welfare concerns to take precedence over politics
Intended results
To highlight that there is an ongoing discussion and voting procedure in the European Parliament to validate the delegated act developed by the EC under Regulation 2019/6 on reserving certain antimicrobials for human use.
To highlight that we were made aware some days ago that Comenvi's MEP Häusling was proposing a Motion for a Resolution to reject the proposal from the Commission.
This proposal makes some strong changes that, if approved, may
* not serve to protect public health. By not treating animal bacterial diseases, these can spread to other animals and humans (in case of zoonotic bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, …), jeopardising food safety and security.
* have serious consequences to animal health and welfare. Both farm and companion animals get diseases for which the use of critical antibiotics is essential, since there is no alternative treatment. By prohibiting the only therapeutic choice available, these animals will be left unprotected against bacterial infections, leading to the premature euthanising. This is contrary to Article 13 (Title II) of the TFEU, which recognises animals as sentient beings, requiring we pay full reg
* be contrary to the One Health approach The delegated act is in line with the One Health approach. Taking only one aspect (public health) into account (i.e. duplication of the WHO list) is contrary to the One Health approach, that has been endorsed by the European Parliament.
* disregard how antimicrobials are prescribed The use of veterinary medicines “to compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate animal husbandry or lack of care or to compensate for poor farm management” is expressly banned as per Regulation 2019/6 (article 107). Moreover, the use of antibiotics in animals is only allowed on veterinary prescription following physical examination, good knowledge of the animal(s) and proper diagnosis. Only in exceptional cases is a group treatment permitte
* disregard the scientific consensus reached by the EU's agencies EMA, EFSA and ECDC, including public health experts. Also, the WHO acknowledges that animal health should be considered before applying controls, and recommends the list set out by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to be equally considered.
* ignore the fact alternatives are not always available for antibiotics needed to treat animals against common bacterial infections. Finally, attached to this email you may find the different communications done in the past weeks together with the members of EPRUMA, stressing the need for the EP to reject Häusling's Motion proposal (all attached)
To ask for the support of MEP's during the vote on 13th July and reject the Motion proposal, which could be really problematic for the present and future of responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. The IFA position is in support of the COPA position
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Liam MacHale IFA European Director
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Colm Markey
MEP (European Parliament)
Seán Kelly
MEP (European Parliament)
Frances Fitzgerald
MEP (European Parliament)
Maria Walsh
MEP (European Parliament)
Deirdre Clune
MEP (European Parliament)
Ciarán Cuffe
MEP (European Parliament)
Grace O'Sullivan
MEP (European Parliament)
Mick Wallace
MEP (European Parliament)
Chris MacManus
MEP (European Parliament)
Clare Daly
MEP (European Parliament)
Luke Ming Flanagan
MEP (European Parliament)
Barry Andrews
MEP (European Parliament)
Billy Kelleher
MEP (European Parliament)