PIG WELFARE WAYS TO COMPLIANCE?

1. PIG WELFARE WAYS TO COMPLIANCE? Oscar Dignoes Animal Welfare Unit Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Environment Spain

2. Structure of the presentation 1. Short Overview: the Spanish Pig Sector 2. Our goal: Full compliance 3. Ensuring transition: The Road Map 4. Prevention and enforcement: 5. Conclussions

3. 1. The Spanish Pig Sector: Short Overview Pork production > 5.000 million € > 1/3 of Livestock production > 3.2 milliones tonnes Self Sufficiency > 145 % Ranking (UE): 2nd (Germany - Spain) Ranking (world): 4th (China – USA – Germany - Spain) ● Two different rearing systems ● 20% of the farms hold 95% of the animals (intensive)

4. Two different rearing systems in Spain Intensive rearing > 90% of census White breedings Extensive rearing 7-10% of census Cerdo ibérico 25,2% 21,1% 23,9% 47,6% 27,7%

5. 2. Our goal: Full compliance • Implementation • Not only a great challenge • But also an absolute necessity • Both, the Spanish competent authorities and the pig sector are strongly engaged to full compliance.

6. The great challenge • Achieve full compliance while maintaining the competitiveness of the pig production and industry, in line with the European model. • First undoubtable fact; compliance implies structural changes in the Spanish pig sector

7. The Directive was approved without an adequate previous impact assessment Average cost per sow amounts to 300 €. Not all farmers can afford this high cost There is no doubt that the adaptation has a high cost

8. 3. The Road Map: Our Action Plan Five different groups of measures • Assessment • Financial measures • Dissemination & Training • Communication • Follow-up

9. Intense coordination of central and regional competent authorities Close collaboration with the sector Focused on group housing of sows, but including others AW-standards Tool for Boosting and Monitorizing the transition process. The Road Map: http://www.magrama.es/app/vocwai/documentos/Adjuntos_AreaPublica/hoja%20ruta%20bienestar%20porcino%2018_10_2011.pdf

10. 4. PREVENTION & ENFORCEMENT while avoiding undesired and undesirable consequences Additional measures (Royal Decree): • Prevention: Prior to 1.1.2013 • Limitating the entry of new animals • Limitating insemination (service) • Ensuring enforcement: 1.1.2013 • Limitating the movements of animals • Prohibition of insemination • Closing down or census-reduction (max. 9 sows)

11. 5. Conclussions Legislation must and will be enforced, but we must be prepared and ready to face undesired or unexpected consequences: • Production • Market • Structural changes in the Pork sector • Animal Welfare concerns

12. Possible consequences Production • Reduction of herds Market • Short term supply shortages on the EU-market • Short-term price-increase in pork and pork-products • Reduction of herds: ↓exports and ↑imports

13. Possible consequences Structural changes • Breeding MS vs Feeding MS • Concentration: Less holdings, but bigger ones • Loss of rural jobs and rural social fabric Animal Welfare concerns • Compulsory culling or sacrifice • Long transportation of piglets • Third countries with less stringent AW-standards

14. Extensive production COMMITMENT: FULL COMPLIANCE BUT UNDESIRED CONSEQUENCES IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUSTAINABILITY & COMPETITIVENESS

15. Thank you for your attention sganaderos@magrama.es

16. Council Conclusions June 2010Spanish PresidencyInternational competitiveness of the European agri-food model • The European production model, with its high standards, is a major part of our heritage which is important to preserve. • Simplification, evaluation, and impact assessment are essential tools to be used systematically to reduce unnecessary costs and the administrative burden for businesses. • There is a necessity to ensure that there are EU instruments designed to help farmers meet the concerns of the society and consumer demands that are not taken into account by the market.