As announced in Official Journal C 156 of 2 June 2012, the Commission decided to withdraw this proposal, which had become obsolete.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Karin SCHEELE (PES, AT), and rejected the Commission’s proposal by 32 votes in favour to 472 against with 10 abstentions. (Please refer to the summary of the debate in plenary of 16/11/2005.)

The European Parliament adopted a resolution backing the rapporteur Karin SCHEELE (PES, AT), and rejected a draft directive on the trapping of certain animal species designed to bring EU law into line with international agreements reached with Russia, Canada and the United States. The report was referred back to the Committee.

The rapporteur argued that the draft directive was 'very unsatisfactory' and 'difficult to improve by means of amendments'. In addition, she said, the text lacked any proper scientific basis.

To recall, in 1996, the Community concluded two identical agreements on the trapping of certain animal species, firstly with Russia and Canada and then with the United States. The Council approved the agreements in 1998 but, because national laws continued to differ, the Commission proposed that a directive be adopted to harmonise these laws and thus enable the European Union to comply with these agreements. The draft directive does not cover leghold traps, which have been banned since 1991. The aim is to regulate other traps, for example, drowning traps, to make them less cruel. The agreements and the draft directive cover 19 species (muskrat, marten, sable, badger, wolf, beaver, otter, etc.).

In June 1997, meanwhile, Parliament condemned by a large majority the agreement concluded with Canada and Russia because it did not take sufficient account of animal welfare and was primarily motivated by trade considerations.

The use of the term 'humane' in the title of the directive was strongly contested by some members of the Parliament, particularly the Socialist, Green and GUE/NGL groups. It was also queried by the Commission's own Scientific and Veterinary Committee, which maintained that the international agreements do not rule out unacceptable levels of suffering.

However, a large majority vote in of the Parliament was achieved partly because of an alliance between contradictory points of view, between those who thought the directive too weak and those who believed it went too far. Some, including a number of Dutch Members, did not want the directive to hinder the fight against certain harmful animals, in particular the muskrat, which constantly threatens the dykes that protect the regions of the Netherlands below sea level.

Commissioner DIMAS said the Commission would now have to reflect on the best way of moving forward.

The committee adopted the report by Karin SCHEELE (PES, AT) rejecting the proposal under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure. MEPs argued that the draft directive was 'very unsatisfactory' and difficult to improve by means of amendments. They added that the text lacked any proper scientific basis.

PURPOSE : introducing humane trapping standards for certain animal species.

PROPOSED ACT : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : with a view to implementing the environmental aspect of the Agreement on humane international trapping standards, the Commission is proposing to apply standards to 19 animal species such as the Coyote, Marten, Bobcat, Muskrat, Raccoon, Lynx, Badger, Wolf, Beaver, Otter and Pine marten and others covered by the Agreement. This proposal respects the contents of the Agreement concerning the species covered, the general objectives and the technical aspects. The proposed Directive establishes humane trapping standards, requirements for trapping methods, technical provisions for the testing of trapping methods and the certification of traps for trapping certain wild animal species and concerns traps used for the trapping of the wild mammals for the purposes of wildlife management, pest control, capture of mammals for conservation and obtaining fur, skin or meat.

In addition, the Commission provides that the Member States are required to designate competent authorities for the purpose of implementation of the Directive. The competent authorities shall have the responsibility to deliver a standard certification document , as appropriate, containing specific conditions and restrictions regarding the use of the traps concerned.

Furthermore, the proposal sets out the conditions for the general use of traps. After the date of 1 January 2009 only certified traps may be put into use to trap the 19 animal species listed.

Moreover, it establishes the principle that the use of traps certified in third countries will be

allowed in the Community. It also imposes upon the Member States to ensure that, as from 1 January 2012, no trapping methods are used that are not in conformity with the humane trapping standards.

It should be recalled that the Agreement has been inspired by the desire to agree on international humane trapping standards as well as to avoid trade disputes with the main international fur exporters. The Agreement has been applied provisionally between the Community and Canada since June 1999, pending its entry into force which requires ratification by the Russian Federation. The second one concerns the United States of America and has the form of an agreed minute. This was approved by Council Decision 98/487/EC. The Agreement on international humane trapping standards aims to establish standards on humane trapping methods, to improve communication and co-operation between the Parties for the implementation and development of these standards and facilitate trade of furs and traps between the Parties. The aim of the humane trapping standards is to ensure a sufficient level of welfare of trapped animals, and to further improve this welfare.

PURPOSE : introducing humane trapping standards for certain animal species.

PROPOSED ACT : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : with a view to implementing the environmental aspect of the Agreement on humane international trapping standards, the Commission is proposing to apply standards to 19 animal species such as the Coyote, Marten, Bobcat, Muskrat, Raccoon, Lynx, Badger, Wolf, Beaver, Otter and Pine marten and others covered by the Agreement. This proposal respects the contents of the Agreement concerning the species covered, the general objectives and the technical aspects. The proposed Directive establishes humane trapping standards, requirements for trapping methods, technical provisions for the testing of trapping methods and the certification of traps for trapping certain wild animal species and concerns traps used for the trapping of the wild mammals for the purposes of wildlife management, pest control, capture of mammals for conservation and obtaining fur, skin or meat.

In addition, the Commission provides that the Member States are required to designate competent authorities for the purpose of implementation of the Directive. The competent authorities shall have the responsibility to deliver a standard certification document , as appropriate, containing specific conditions and restrictions regarding the use of the traps concerned.

Furthermore, the proposal sets out the conditions for the general use of traps. After the date of 1 January 2009 only certified traps may be put into use to trap the 19 animal species listed.

Moreover, it establishes the principle that the use of traps certified in third countries will be

allowed in the Community. It also imposes upon the Member States to ensure that, as from 1 January 2012, no trapping methods are used that are not in conformity with the humane trapping standards.

It should be recalled that the Agreement has been inspired by the desire to agree on international humane trapping standards as well as to avoid trade disputes with the main international fur exporters. The Agreement has been applied provisionally between the Community and Canada since June 1999, pending its entry into force which requires ratification by the Russian Federation. The second one concerns the United States of America and has the form of an agreed minute. This was approved by Council Decision 98/487/EC. The Agreement on international humane trapping standards aims to establish standards on humane trapping methods, to improve communication and co-operation between the Parties for the implementation and development of these standards and facilitate trade of furs and traps between the Parties. The aim of the humane trapping standards is to ensure a sufficient level of welfare of trapped animals, and to further improve this welfare.