European Commission Health & Consumers Directorate General Animal welfare approach in the European Union, Declaration of Brussels Amsterdam, 30 November.

European CommissionEuropean CommissionHealth & ConsumersHealth & Consumers

Directorate GeneralDirectorate General

Animal welfare approach in the European Animal welfare approach in the European Union, Declaration of Brussels Union, Declaration of Brussels

Amsterdam, 30 November 2011Amsterdam, 30 November 2011

Andrea GAVINELLIAndrea GAVINELLIAnimal Welfare UnitAnimal Welfare Unit

Enforcement

Group housing of sows and gilts : 1 January 2013 Providing adequate enrichment material Avoiding routine tail-docking

Council Directive 2001/88/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs

Transport

28 million pigs 4,3 million cattle 4,3 million sheep 150 thousand horses

and

more than 1 billion poultry

(cross border transportin 2009)*

* Commission Report on the impact of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during Transport 10.11.2011

Slaughter

Introduction of animal welfare indicators Third Country equivalency

Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing

European Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs

European Representatives of the pig sector commit to voluntarily stop surgical castration by 1 January 2018 provided certain tools are available such as harmonised methods at European Level to detect Boar Taint. From 1 January 2012 surgical castration of pigs will be performed with prolonged analgesia and/or anesthesia.The Declaration establishes a European Partnership on Pig Castration.

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/farm/initiatives_en.htm

Objectives and activities as stated in the Declaration

1. Ensure the acceptance of products from not surgically castrated pigs by authorities and consumers in the EU but also in Third Countries

2. Agree on a common understanding of boar taint

3. Perform or coordinate research and development and achieve results

4. Develop information and training of farmers and other

members of the whole pork chain

5. Do a Cost/benefit analysis on the consequences of the end of surgical castration (change in production costs, costs/benefits at the different levels, cost sharing plans)

6. Develop a list of traditional productions requiring heavier pigs

7. Publish an annual public report assessing the progress on the above actions including costs

European Declaration on alternativesto surgical castration of pigs

voluntary agreement to phase out surgical castration of pigs in Europe by 1 January 2018

COPA-COGECA

Eurogroup for Animals

UECBV (The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union)

CLITRAVI (Liaison Center for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union)

FESASS (The European Federation for Animal Health and Sanitary Security)

EAAP (European Federation for Animal Science)

EFFAB (European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders)

FVE

Danish Agriculture and Food Council

DBV (German farmer association)

VDF (German meat industry association)

HDE (German retail association)

Scientific experts from INRA

COV (Dutch red meat slaughterhouses)

LTO Nederland (Dutch pig farmers organisation)NVV (Dutch pig farmers organisation)NBHV (Dutch livestock traders organisation)ANAS (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Suini) – ItalyDMRI (Danish Meat Research Institute)OIVO - CRIOC (Centre de Recherche et d'Information des Organisations de Consommateurs)FEFAC (European Feed Manufacturers' Federation)CIWF (Compassion in World Farming)The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Republic of IrelandFinnish Farm Animal Welfare CouncilGalician Meat Technology Centre – SpainDutch Society for the Protection of AnimalsPROVIEH VgtM e.V. – GermanySCIENTIFIC EXPERT from IFIP - “Institut du porc en France"

ResearchReport on European Network of Centres of Reference

Research projects in animal welfare under the Framework Programmes:FP6

Welfare QualityPIGCASCloning in publicQ-PorkChains – Ensuring quality of meat for the futureDIALRELSeveral fish welfare projects

FP7EconWelfareEuropean Animal Welfare Platform projectAWARE - Animal WelfAre Research in an enlarged Europe AWIN – Animal Welfare Indicator project Several fish welfare projects

SANCO pilot project: ALCASDE - Study on the improved methods for animal-friendly production, in particular on alternatives to the castration of pigs

EFSA

Scientific Opinions on pig welfareWelfare aspects of the castration of piglets (2004)

Effects of space allowances and floor types on the welfare of weaners and rearing pigs (2005)

Housing and husbandry of fattening pigs (2007)

Housing and husbandry systems for adult breeding boars, pregnant, farrowing sows and unweaned piglets (2007)

risks associated with tail biting in pigs and possible means to reduce the need for tail docking considering the different housing and husbandry systems (2007)

NEW:Request for a scientific opinion concerning the use of animal-based measures to assess the welfare of pigs – December 2011

www.farmland-thegame.eu

Future strategy on animal welfare 2011-2015

Need to reinforce existing toolsEnforcement (e.g. common methodology to address animal welfare risks)ResearchInternational cooperation Communication and education

Something “new” is coming...

On pig castration planned for September 2012

Future workshop

14

Thank you

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/index_en.htm