Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000592/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Carola Rackete (The Left)
Suction olive harvesters cause extremely significant bird mortality and disturbance.
The olive trees are stripped at night because cool temperatures help to preserve the olives’ aromatic compounds. The birds rest in the trees at night and are dazzled by the intense lighting of the machinery and become unable to effectively escape from the path of the harvesters. If they do manage to fly away in time, they will often land on the next row of trees, only to suffer the same fate as another harvester follows.
Scientists have confirmed that we are in the sixth mass extinction event, with the loss of an unprecedented number of species as a result of human activity. This nocturnal machine harvesting is completely at odds with the EU biodiversity strategy.
Some olive-growing regions have banned this nocturnal suction machine harvesting practice due to bird mortality and disturbance.
Will the Commission introduce a blanket restriction on the practice given its cruelty, the fact that it undermines the EU biodiversity strategy and in the interests of a level playing field for all olive oil producers?
Submitted: 10.2.2025