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 Last update: December 4, 2009

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 Animal Welfare

EU Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010

On January 23, 2006, the European Commission adopted the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals.  This Action Plan includes a 5-year legislative work plan (2006-2010) that outlines EU policy initiatives for implementing animal welfare principles in all EU sectors and in relations with third countries.  Animal welfare principles are set out by the Protocol on the Protection and Welfare of Animals annexed to the Treaty of Amsterdam (in force since May 1999).  The Protocol recognizes that animals are sentient beings and stipulates that "In formulating and implementing the Community's agriculture, transport, internal market and research policies, the Community and the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage."  

The Action Plan provides initiatives in 5 broad areas of animal welfare for the 2006-2010 period:

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Upgrading minimum standards for animal protection and welfare.
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Giving high priority to promoting policy-oriented research and the application of the "3Rs" principle (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of the use of animals in experiments) to animal testing.
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Introducing standardized animal welfare indicators.
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Ensuring animal handlers and the general public are more involved and informed on animal welfare issues.
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Supporting and initiating further international initiatives to raise awareness of, and create greater consensus on, animal welfare.

A detailed work plan for executing the objectives of the Action Plan is included in the Commission's Communication to the European Parliament and the Council.

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European Parliament Report on a Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 (Sept. 2006)

Animal Welfare Labeling

On October 28, 2009, the European Commission published its long awaited report outlining a series of policy options for animal welfare labeling.  The report also considers the possible establishment of a "European Network of Reference Centers for the Protection and Welfare of Animals" (ENRC).  The ENRC would provide technical support for the development and implementation of a variety of animal welfare policies including labeling and certification.  The state objective of both initiatives is not to raise animal welfare standards as such but to increase consumer understanding of animal welfare and provide an incentive to producers to increase the welfare of animals.  The Commission report does not endorse any of the animal welfare labeling options but identifies legislative and non-legislative options which are considered to be the most feasible at this stage.  The finding presented in the report will now form the basis for an in-depth debate between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament.  For detailed information on the Commission report see: Animal Welfare Labeling -European Commission Report (GAIN report E49084 - November 19, 2009)

Welfare Quality Project 

The EU is also funding the “Welfare Quality” project about the integration of animal welfare in the food quality chain.  The project focuses on 3 main species and their products: cattle (beef and dairy), pigs, and poultry (broiler chickens and laying hens).  The research program is designed to develop European standards for on-farm welfare assessment and product information systems as well as practical strategies for improving animal welfare.  The project started in May 2004 and will take five years to complete.  For more information see www.welfarequality.net/everyone/36059.

- Publication of first European protocols for assessing farm animal welfare (published October 2009)
- Stakeholder Conference "Delivering Animal Welfare & Quality: Transparency in the Food Production Chain" (October 8-9, 2009 in Uppsala, Sweden)
- Press Release Swedish Presidency

Reports

bullet Animal Welfare Labeling -European Commission Report (GAIN report E49084 - November 19, 2009)
bullet "EC engages on Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare" (GAIN report E49028 - March 2009)
bullet "EU hosts global conference on trade and farm animal welfare" (GAIN report E49016 - February 2009)
bullet "EU launches new proposal for animal welfare at slaughter or killing" (GAIN report E48113 - Oct. 2008)
bullet "EU adopts Community Animal Health Policy 2007-13" (GAIN report E47096 - Oct 2007)
bullet "EU launches Action Plan for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010" (GAIN report E36031 - Mar. 2006)
bullet "EU Parliamentary Rejection of Proposal on Humane Trapping Standards"  (GAIN report E35241 - Jan. 2006)
 

Links

bullet Project to develop animal welfare risk assessment guidelines on stunning and killing (technical report to EFSA - published October 2009)
bullet EFSA advises on welfare of dairy cows (July 2009)
bullet DG Consumers & Health Protection - Animal Welfare
 
bullet Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing
bullet Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs (February 2009)
bullet Commission Decision 2008/567/EC: 2008 financial contribution towards actions of the OIE in the area of animal welfare (July 2008)
bullet Communication from the Commission on the various systems of rearing laying hens (January 8, 2008)
bullet Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (June 28, 2007)
 
bullet Factsheet: Animal welfare - Ensuring the humane and responsible treatment of farmed animals (March 2007)
bullet Improving Animal Welfare: EU Action Plan Adopted (Commission Press Release)
Questions & Answers on the Action Plan on the Protection of Animal Welfare (Commission Press Release)
bullet EU Animal Health Strategy (2007-2013) - Community Animal Health Policy (CAHP) Evaluation
bullet Eurobarometer "Consumer attitudes towards the welfare of farmed animals" (European Commission)
bullet Eurogroup for animal welfare

 

 

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