Rabbit production in the European Union rules and regulations

Rabbit meat is included in the of Common Market Organisations related to agricultural products which are included in Annex II of the European Treaty but without any specific policy. The mechanisms are mainly common duty regime, absence of quantitative restrictions of imports, safeguard clause. implementation of community rules on competition and free movement in the community territory. From a sanitary point of view. the only compulsory requirement for rabbit trade is that they come from holdings free of rabies and myxomatosis. In addition some member states have drawn up specific surveillance programmes for Viral Haemorrhagic Disease. Rabbit meat intended for the European market should come from an approved establishment and therefore should comply with stipulations an pre-slaughter and post-mortem health inspection. Animal should come an area were the rabbit's requirements were respected such as among others, handling under satisfactory hygiene conditions, compulsory health mark, hygienic storage and transport. Council Regulations encourages the formation of producer groups in ender to remedy the structural deficiencies affecting the supply and marketing of rabbit products, and there are a significant number of rabbit producer groups recognised in the European Union. During the last six years community production of rabbit meat has decreased steadily by an average of 0.69 % per year. As regards foreign trade, community imports volume are bigger than exports so it gives a negative balance in absolute value. During the 1989-1994 period community imports fell slightly but remain around 30.000 tons, mainly from Hungary and China. France is the first exporting country in the European Union but Community exports represent only 7 % of total imports of rabbit meat.