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Farm Animal Welfare: The Regulatory and Policy Landscape

Farm Animal Welfare: The Regulatory and Policy Landscape. Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor Compassion in World Farming. The European Union. 27 member states Population of 502 million World’s largest importer of agricultural products and, with U.S., the largest exporter. Sentient beings.

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Farm Animal Welfare: The Regulatory and Policy Landscape

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  1. Farm Animal Welfare: The Regulatory and Policy Landscape Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor Compassion in World Farming

  2. The European Union 27 member states Population of 502 million World’s largest importer of agricultural products and, with U.S., the largest exporter

  3. Sentient beings Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Recognises animals as ‘sentient beings’ Provides that, in formulating and implementing the Union's policies on agriculture, fisheries, the internal market, transport and research, the Union and the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals

  4. EU Action Plan & Strategy • European Commission adopted a Community Action Plan on the Welfare of Animals for the period 2006-2010 • Commission is currently preparing the Second EU Strategy for Animal Welfare for the period to 2015

  5. European Parliament strongly supports animal welfare The European Parliament has recently stressed: “animal welfare in the 21st century is an expression of our humanity and a challenge to European civilisation and culture”

  6. Barren battery cages EU has banned barren battery cages from 1 January 2012

  7. From 1st January 2012, only 3 systems will be lawful in EU • Free range • Barn (indoors but not in cages) • Enriched cages

  8. Sow stalls EU ban on sow stalls comes into force on 1 January 2013

  9. EU Pigs Directive requires provision of enrichment materials • Most EU fattening pigs kept indoors in barren pens with no straw or other enrichment materials • Pigs Directive provides “must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities” • Directive requires provision of materials “such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat”

  10. Veal crates Banned since 2007

  11. EU Directive on chickens reared for meat • Allows maximum stocking density of 39kg/m2 • But this is subject to compliance with welfare conditions including observing maximum limits on temperature, humidity, ammonia & carbon dioxide levels • Requires training for persons in charge of chickens • Requires all chickens to have permanent access to dry litter

  12. EU Transport Regulation • Sets maximum journey limits that vary by species and standard of vehicle • All firms must hold an authorisation • Vehicles used to transport animals for over 8 hours must hold a certificate of approval showing that they comply with the Regulation’s standards for such journeys • Drivers must hold a certificate of competence • A transporter who plans to transport animals on a journey over 8 hours between Member States must submit a journey plan to the competent authority which must reject the plan if it does not indicate that the Regulation will be complied with during the journey • Transport of ill or injured animals is prohibited • Minimum space allowances are set by the Regulation.

  13. EU Slaughter Regulation • Requires animals (including poultry) to be stunned – rendered unconscious – before throat-cutting • New EU Regulation which replaces the current Directive in 2013 requires slaughterhouse operators to: • draw up standard operating procedures • have monitoring procedures in place • designate an animal welfare officer to assist them in ensuring compliance with the welfare rules

  14. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) • Intergovernmental organisation responsible for fighting animal disease & improving animal health worldwide • Has 178 Member Countries • In 2001 OIE added animal welfare to its priority areas of work • Has produced recommendations on welfare during transport & slaughter • Has begun to develop recommendations regarding on-farm welfare

  15. International Finance Corporation: I • Good Practice Note on Animal Welfare in Livestock Operations • Not legally binding but an indication of growing international recognition that good standards of animal welfare are a prerequisite for business success • Also a Note on Creating Business Opportunity through Improved Animal Welfare

  16. International Finance Corporation: II • The Good Practice & Business Opportunity Notes stress there are growing market opportunities for food produced in animal welfare friendly systems • Businesses that address animal welfare are likely to win competitive advantage in global marketplace e.g. • Cost savings from more efficient production processes that enhance animal welfare • Satisfying international markets • Becoming the producer of choice for retailers and consumers concerned with animal health & welfare, food safety & quality, human health and the environment

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