EU Legislation

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

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 :

• Laying hens
• Calves
• Pigs
• Broilers

For more information: DG Sanco website

FVE position paper on laying hens, broilers and castration of pigs

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

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

Council of Europe Legislation

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.

For all conventions, resolutions, recommendations and ratifications: click here

OIE Legislation

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