Spaak, A.

Archive of European Integration

October 1982 
/ . .)..3 
English Edition 
European Communities 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
Working Documents 
1982-1983 
DOCUMENT 1-686/82 
REPORT 
drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public 
Health and Consumer Protection 
o~ose-cramming to produce foie gras 
Rapporteur: Mrs PRUVOT 
PE 78.231/fin. 

On 15 October 1980 the motion for a resolution tabled by 
Mr CABORN (Doc. 1-486/80) pursuant to Rule 47 <ex 25) of the Rules 
of Procedure on goose-cramming to produce foie gras was referred 
to the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer 
Protection. 
On 19 March 1981, the committee appointed Mr COMBE, rapporteur. 
Following the death of Mr COMBE, a new rapporteur had to be appointed. 
On 27 April 1982 the committee appointed Mrs PRUVOT rapporteur. 
It considered the motion for a resolution at its meetings of 
22 June 1982 and 30 September 1982 and, at the latter meeting adopted 
the motion for a resolution contained in the report unanimously 
with three abstentions. 
The following took part in the vote : Mr Collins, chairman; 
Mrs Pruvot, rapporteur; Mr Calvez (deputizing for Mr Nordmann>, 
Mr Del Duca, Mr Forth, Mr Ghergo, Mr Geurtsen <deputizing for 
Mrs Scrivener), Mrs Lentz-Cornette, Mr Muntingh, Mrs Seibel-Emmerling, 
Dr Sherlock and Mrs Spaak. 
- 3 - PE 78.231/fin. 
CONTENTS 
A. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ................... 
B. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
ANNEX: Motion for a Resolution tabled by Mr Richard Caborn 
pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure on 
goose-cramming to produce foie gras <Doc. 1-486/80) 
- 4 -
5 
6 
8 
PE 78.231/fin 
A 
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection 
hereby submits to the European Parliament the following motion for a resolution 
together with explanatory statement: 
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION 
on goose cramming to produce foie gras 
The European Parliament, 
A. having regard to the resolution tabled by Mr Caborn (Doc.1-486/80>, 
B. having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health 
and Consumer Protection <Doc.1-686/82>, 
C. whereas the practice of goose-cramming to increase the size of goose livers to 
produce foie gras is used in certain regions of the Community, particularly in 
France, 
D. whereas cramming is not an industrial process but is carried out by an experienced 
person who helps the animal by hand to swallow the exclusively maize-
based food, 
1. Deplores cruelty to animals, whatever form it may take and recalls the findings 
published in January 1974 of the inquiry carried out under the auspices of the 
' Council of Europe by a commit~ee for the protection of animals; 
2. Recognizes, nevertheless, that the different traditions and cultures 
of the Member States give rise to differences in attitude as to 
what constitutes acceptable behaviour; 
3. Considers, therefore, that thereis no reason to' restrict or prohibit the cramming 
of geese to produce foie gras; 
4. Fails to see any urgent need for harmonization in this area within the Community 
at present. 
- 5 - PE 78.231/fin. 
B 
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 
1. The goose is certainly the fowl which has been longest 
domesticated by man. There are indications that it was kept 
in ancient China and India, by the Persians and the 
Assyrians and by all the peoples of the ancient world. 
2. The Egyptians were the first to leave irrefutable docu-
mentary evidence of goose-fattening. In Sakkarah, at the 
burial place of Ti, a high official of the Royal Court during 
the Vth Dynasty {c. 2500 B.C.), a large mural was discovered 
which shows several groups of geese being fed by six people 
seated in the foreground. 
3. The goose was originally a migrant,bird which. stored 
reserves of fat all over its body, particularly around the 
liver, before embarking on its long migration. If one observes 
a goose in flight, it can be seen that the liver is situated at 
the animal's centre of gravity. 
4. The goose belongs to the family of fat palmipeds with a 
natural bulimia which is exploited•during the cramming process. 
5. Cramming is divided essentialiy into two stages: 
. a period of pre-cramming which takes account of the 
anatomical features of the animal {developed oesophagus 
and crop), 
the period of cramming itself which varies, depending 
on the animal, from 8 to 20 days on average. 
6. Cramming is essentially an artisanal occupation carried out 
by a person who exercises care and:attention in helping the 
animal by hand to s~allow exclusively maize-based food. A goose 
receives between 700 and 800 grams of food per day in this way. 
The aim is to exploit the natural 9ulimic appetite of the 
animal to assure rapid fattening. 
- 6 -. PE 78.231/·fin. 
7. The geese will approach the person who feeds them and 
demand food. If the cramming process caused any suffering to 
the animal it would certainly not react in this way at the sight 
of the person responsible for feeding it. 
8. Before the cramming period the geese live in total 
freedom. During the cramming period the animals are kept in 
spacious and airy enclosures with fences no higher than 70 em. 
9. The liver of the crammed animal does not show any patholo-
gical abnormality. There is no liver disease. If the cramming 
is stopped, the liver becomes normal again. The health of the 
goose is a precondition for the success of cramming. 
10. The Council of Europe report of 14 January 1974, drawn up 
in France by a committee of experts on the protection of 
animals, describes exactly all the goose-cramming procedures. 
After watching cramming in progress and visiting a number of 
farms, the committee did not indicate any inhumane or unaccep-
table practices in the rearing of the animals. There is no 
reason to doubt the results of the inquiry by the Council of 
Europe. 
11. In France, the production of foie gras helps to provide a 
living for around 20,000 small farms situated in poor agricul-
tural regions. 
12. While France is a major prqducer of foie gras, other 
countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia 
and Israel, also produce significant quantities. 
Many countries, such as Japan, $pain, Mexico, Argentina and 
Brazil are currently showing an:interest in this productiou. 
t 13. In view of the fact that the Council of Europe's committee 
of experts on the protection of animals did not find any cause 
to object to the production of foie gras by goose-cramming, 
that, viewed objectively, cramming is a process whereby the 
animal's natural inclination to bulimia is exploited, and that 
the animal is not diseased after cramming, there is no reason 
to restrict or prohibit production. 
- 7 - PE 78.231/ fin. 
ANNEX 
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (Doc. 1-486/80> 
tabled by Mr Richard CABORN pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure 
on goose cramming to produce foie gras 
fbe EUropean Parliament. 
- having regard to the provisions of the Treaty of Rome and in 
particular Article 39 and following and Article 100 and following, 
- having regard to the ban on force feeding in the animal protection 
legislation of certain European countries, 
-having regard to the Memorandum on this subject by the 'Crusade 
against all Cruelty to Animals', 
- whereas goose cramming exploits the animals beyond their natural 
limits, 
- whereas the report drawn up on goose. cramming by the Council of 
Europe is at variance with established facts, 
1. Believes goose cramming to be an inhumane and unacceptable method 
of anintal husbandry: 
2. Reques~the Commission to present to the European Parliament before 
the end of 1980 a detailed report on the process followed to produce 
foie gras in the Community and countries exporting to the Community, 
and calls for a report on the subject from its appropria• Committee: 
3. Invites the Commission to draw up regulations to control or eliminate 
the production of foie gras by goose cramming, and, as an interim 
measure, to permit national legislation to control trade in these 
products. 
- 8 - PE 78.231/fin/Ann. 
t I 
1 
1 
'•I 


Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection on goose-cramming to produce foie gras. Working Documents 1982-1983, Document 1-686/82, October 1982

October 1982 / . .)..3 English Edition European Communities EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Working Documents 1982-1983 DOCUMENT 1-686/82 REPORT drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection o~ose-cramming to produce foie gras Rapporteur: Mrs PRUVOT PE 78.231/fin. On 15 October 1980 the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr CABORN (Doc. 1-486/80) pursuant to Rule 47 <ex 25) of the Rules of Procedure on goose-cramming to produce foie gras was referred to the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. On 19 March 1981, the committee appointed Mr COMBE, rapporteur. Following the death of Mr COMBE, a new rapporteur had to be appointed. On 27 April 1982 the committee appointed Mrs PRUVOT rapporteur. It considered the motion for a resolution at its meetings of 22 June 1982 and 30 September 1982 and, at the latter meeting adopted the motion for a resolution contained in the report unanimously with three abstentions. The following took part in the vote : Mr Collins, chairman; Mrs Pruvot, rapporteur; Mr Calvez (deputizing for Mr Nordmann>, Mr Del Duca, Mr Forth, Mr Ghergo, Mr Geurtsen <deputizing for Mrs Scrivener), Mrs Lentz-Cornette, Mr Muntingh, Mrs Seibel-Emmerling, Dr Sherlock and Mrs Spaak. - 3 - PE 78.231/fin. CONTENTS A. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ................... B. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT ANNEX: Motion for a Resolution tabled by Mr Richard Caborn pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure on goose-cramming to produce foie gras <Doc. 1-486/80) - 4 -5 6 8 PE 78.231/fin A The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection hereby submits to the European Parliament the following motion for a resolution together with explanatory statement: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on goose cramming to produce foie gras The European Parliament, A. having regard to the resolution tabled by Mr Caborn (Doc.1-486/80>, B. having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection <Doc.1-686/82>, C. whereas the practice of goose-cramming to increase the size of goose livers to produce foie gras is used in certain regions of the Community, particularly in France, D. whereas cramming is not an industrial process but is carried out by an experienced person who helps the animal by hand to swallow the exclusively maize-based food, 1. Deplores cruelty to animals, whatever form it may take and recalls the findings published in January 1974 of the inquiry carried out under the auspices of the ' Council of Europe by a commit~ee for the protection of animals; 2. Recognizes, nevertheless, that the different traditions and cultures of the Member States give rise to differences in attitude as to what constitutes acceptable behaviour; 3. Considers, therefore, that thereis no reason to' restrict or prohibit the cramming of geese to produce foie gras; 4. Fails to see any urgent need for harmonization in this area within the Community at present. - 5 - PE 78.231/fin. B EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 1. The goose is certainly the fowl which has been longest domesticated by man. There are indications that it was kept in ancient China and India, by the Persians and the Assyrians and by all the peoples of the ancient world. 2. The Egyptians were the first to leave irrefutable docu-mentary evidence of goose-fattening. In Sakkarah, at the burial place of Ti, a high official of the Royal Court during the Vth Dynasty {c. 2500 B.C.), a large mural was discovered which shows several groups of geese being fed by six people seated in the foreground. 3. The goose was originally a migrant,bird which. stored reserves of fat all over its body, particularly around the liver, before embarking on its long migration. If one observes a goose in flight, it can be seen that the liver is situated at the animal's centre of gravity. 4. The goose belongs to the family of fat palmipeds with a natural bulimia which is exploited•during the cramming process. 5. Cramming is divided essentialiy into two stages: . a period of pre-cramming which takes account of the anatomical features of the animal {developed oesophagus and crop), the period of cramming itself which varies, depending on the animal, from 8 to 20 days on average. 6. Cramming is essentially an artisanal occupation carried out by a person who exercises care and:attention in helping the animal by hand to s~allow exclusively maize-based food. A goose receives between 700 and 800 grams of food per day in this way. The aim is to exploit the natural 9ulimic appetite of the animal to assure rapid fattening. - 6 -. PE 78.231/·fin. 7. The geese will approach the person who feeds them and demand food. If the cramming process caused any suffering to the animal it would certainly not react in this way at the sight of the person responsible for feeding it. 8. Before the cramming period the geese live in total freedom. During the cramming period the animals are kept in spacious and airy enclosures with fences no higher than 70 em. 9. The liver of the crammed animal does not show any patholo-gical abnormality. There is no liver disease. If the cramming is stopped, the liver becomes normal again. The health of the goose is a precondition for the success of cramming. 10. The Council of Europe report of 14 January 1974, drawn up in France by a committee of experts on the protection of animals, describes exactly all the goose-cramming procedures. After watching cramming in progress and visiting a number of farms, the committee did not indicate any inhumane or unaccep-table practices in the rearing of the animals. There is no reason to doubt the results of the inquiry by the Council of Europe. 11. In France, the production of foie gras helps to provide a living for around 20,000 small farms situated in poor agricul-tural regions. 12. While France is a major prqducer of foie gras, other countries, such as Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Israel, also produce significant quantities. Many countries, such as Japan, $pain, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil are currently showing an:interest in this productiou. t 13. In view of the fact that the Council of Europe's committee of experts on the protection of animals did not find any cause to object to the production of foie gras by goose-cramming, that, viewed objectively, cramming is a process whereby the animal's natural inclination to bulimia is exploited, and that the animal is not diseased after cramming, there is no reason to restrict or prohibit production. - 7 - PE 78.231/ fin. ANNEX MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (Doc. 1-486/80> tabled by Mr Richard CABORN pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure on goose cramming to produce foie gras fbe EUropean Parliament. - having regard to the provisions of the Treaty of Rome and in particular Article 39 and following and Article 100 and following, - having regard to the ban on force feeding in the animal protection legislation of certain European countries, -having regard to the Memorandum on this subject by the 'Crusade against all Cruelty to Animals', - whereas goose cramming exploits the animals beyond their natural limits, - whereas the report drawn up on goose. cramming by the Council of Europe is at variance with established facts, 1. Believes goose cramming to be an inhumane and unacceptable method of anintal husbandry: 2. Reques~the Commission to present to the European Parliament before the end of 1980 a detailed report on the process followed to produce foie gras in the Community and countries exporting to the Community, and calls for a report on the subject from its appropria• Committee: 3. Invites the Commission to draw up regulations to control or eliminate the production of foie gras by goose cramming, and, as an interim measure, to permit national legislation to control trade in these products. - 8 - PE 78.231/fin/Ann. t I 1 1 '•I 

Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection on goose-cramming to produce foie gras. Working Documents 1982-1983, Document 1-686/82, October 1982

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