Parliament adopted a resolution on a Council regulation on the organisation of the beef market, including amendments to strengthen the welfare provisions. The rapporteur welcomed the Commission's proposals that the payment of export refunds should depend on the transporter meeting certain standards. The provisions on animal welfare should also apply to imports from non-EU countries.
In the debate, Alan Gillis (Leinster, EPP) said that the Irish experience showed that it was possible to transport live animals with full concern for their welfare. Over 90 per cent of Irish meat was exported.
He favoured severe penalties where there was mistreatment of cattle. Patricia McKenna (Dublin, Greens) was unhappy with the proposals. She believed it would be impossible to monitor animal welfare in third countries, and that it was unacceptable to use tax payers' money to subsidise these exports.