MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Authorisation and regulation of trade in brown bear meat in Slovakia and its impact on the conservation of the species – E-002224/2025

Question for written answer  E-002224/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
César Luena (S&D)

The Slovak Government has recently announced that restaurants will be authorised to serve meat from brown bears culled under a law that is legally questionable. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a threatened species in Europe and is strictly protected. Before the meat is put on the market, companies will have to obtain a certificate of derogation attesting to the ‘legality’ of the cull and the safety of the meat. The decision has led to concerns about its impact on the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of this species.

• 1.What is the Commission’s official position on the authorisation to sell meat from brown bears, which are protected in the EU, and Slovakia’s criteria for granting certificates of derogation for this trade?
• 2.What mechanisms and controls are in place at EU level for the marketing of meat from a species that is strictly protected by the Habitats Directive?
• 3.What are the Commission’s recommendations for managing the brown bear population where it poses a threat to humans, taking into account non-lethal alternatives and protection of the bears’ natural habitat?

Submitted: 3.6.2025