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Veterinary EU Legislation
Animal Welfare |
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EU Legislation |
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General Framework & strategy:
The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957 by France, West Germany, Italy,
Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, established the European
Economic Community. The Treaty of Rome did not include a reference
to animal welfare. The Treaty of Amsterdam (1 May 1999) included
a protocol on animal welfare. If the Lisbon treaty is ratified on
time and enters into force on 1/1/2009, policies regarding agriculture
(legal base Article 37) will fall under co-decision, meaning the
voice of the European Parliament will be much stronger in all matters
relating to agriculture.
In Jan 2006, the Commission adopted the Community
Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010,
defining the strategy of DG Sanco until 2010.
For more information: DG
Sanco website |
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Animal Welfare on Farm
In 1998, Council
Directive 98/58/EC on the protection of animals kept for farming
purposes gave general rules for the protection of animals of all
species kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or for
other farming purposes, including fish, reptiles or amphibians.
They reflect the so-called 'Five Freedoms' as adopted by the Farm
Animal Welfare Council:
* Freedom from hunger and thirst
* Freedom from discomfort
* Freedom from pain, injury and disease
* Freedom to express normal behaviour
* Freedom from fear and distress
Community legislation concerning the welfare conditions of farm
animals lays down minimum standards. National governments may adopt
more stringent rules provided they are compatible with the provisions
of the Treaty.
Specific rules continue to apply to :
For more information: DG
Sanco website
FVE position paper on laying
hens, broilers and castration
of pigs |
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Animal Welfare during Transport
In 2007, a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport
(EU
Regulation 1/2005) came into force which tries to safeguard
animal welfare during transport.
Since Member States could not find agreement in 2005 on a revision
of existing maximum travelling times and animal stocking densities
on vehicles, the Commission agreed that these two issues will be
the subject of a further separate proposal to be presented not later
than 2011 and to be prepared in the light of the outcomes of enforcement
of the new rules by the Member States.
For more information: DG
Sanco website
FVE position paper on AW
during transport |
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Animal Welfare at Slaughter/Killing
Since in 1995 animal welfare legislation around slaughter is covered
by Council
Directive 93/119/EEC covering a wider range of animals and slaughter
circumstances.
The Commission is planning to revise the current legislation to
reflect new knowledge and advanced scientific evidence and to further
reduce the suffering of animals. A proposal for a new Regulation
is expected to be published in 2008.
For more information: DG
Sanco website
FVE position paper on AW
during slaughter and on slaughter
without prior stunning |
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Council
of Europe Legislation
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The Council of Europe is an intergovernmental
body, set up in 1949, whose main aim is to promote human rights
and democracy. In 2008 it has 46 member countries.
There are five Conventions that have been
agreed on issues relating to animal welfare, and one on conservation
and protection of wildlife and habitats. A Convention is only legally
binding on a country when that country has signed and ratified.
FVE participated as an observer
in the work related to animal welfare Conventions: we provide technical
and scientific advise in Standing Committees, Working Parties and
Drafting Groups. In 2007, the activities of the Council of Europe
were suspended. For all conventions,
resolutions, recommendations and ratifications: click here |
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OIE started in 2002 its activities in Animal
Welfare, as the international reference organisation for animal health,
to elaborate recommendations and guidelines covering animal welfare
practices, reaffirming that animal health is a key component of animal
welfare.
A permanent Animal Welfare Working Group was formed in May 2002
and the first recommendations of the Working Group were adopted
one year later. The OIE Guiding Principles on animal welfare were
included in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial
Code).
More about the animal welfare actitvities of OIE and the recommendations
adopted you can find on the OIE
website.
For more info on international animal welfare initatives: DG
Sanco website |
Animal
Welfare Research Projects |
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Links are given below to some recently completed or ongoing Community-funded
research projects having an important animal welfare component and
in which FVE is involved.
DIALREL - encouraging
dialogue on Religious slaughter (FVE is member of the advisory Board)
WELFARE
QUALITY - developing animal welfare monitoring schemes based
on animal-based parameters (FVE is member of the advisory committee)
CLONING IN PUBLIC - Farm animal cloning and the public (FVE was consulted as stakeholder)
PIGCAS - research on alternatives to surgical pig castration (FVE is member
of the extended circle)
For more projects: DG
sanco website and AGRINET
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