EU Programmes for Animal Welfare in the European region

Transcription

1 EU Programmes for Animal Welfare in the European region Andrea Gavinelli Unit G3 Animal Welfare Directorate General Health and Consumers 1

2 FUNDAMENTALS Animal Welfare Definition as agreed by OIE members and shared by EU Members ( ) means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment.( ) (World Animal Health Organisation definition, adopted by 172 members, May 2008) 6

3 FUNDAMENTALS Animal welfare is day by day integrated with other EU policies AW part of the food and feed control regulation AW related to first pillar of CAP (direct payments) and to the second pillar (rural development) EU minimum standards are the starting point to define organic production standards EU negotiate AW in any FTAs and veterinary agreements 3

4 EU Animal Welfare Strategy The use of animal welfare indicators 2. Information to consumers 3. A network of reference centers 4. Requirements for competence FUNDAMENTALS 5. International standards to be implemented 8

5 INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS COUNCIL OF EUROPE The Council of Europe has been creating international agreements related to animal welfare since the 1960s. The CoE has the largest set of international standards on animal welfare covering slaughter, transport, farmed animals, pets and laboratory animals. The Conventions on animal welfare of the Council of Europe have been the basis of EU legislation and indeed are part of the Aquis of the European Union. 5

6 FUTURE EU POLICIES DEVELOPMENT Background and a new trend EU Animal Welfare Strategy Changing values for the animals in the European society New scientific knowledge: AW indicators Market drivers Integration of AW with sustainable agenda Possible Animal welfare framework LAW 18

7 FUTURE POLICIES DEVELOPMENT EU Animal Welfare Strategy : 4 axis of work 1. The use of animal welfare indicators (ABM = animal based measures) 2. Information to consumers - education - market driven aspects 3. A network of reference centres - scientific and knowledge transfer opportunities 4. Requirements for competence 17

8 A clear demand from the EU for equivalent status for imported products Effect: stronger role of AW standards for trade Science and knowledge transfer: outcome-based animal welfare indicators, training and education for handlers and veterinarians; Consumer empowerment: More transparency and competitiveness for products with high added value of AW; Facilitate investments in animal welfare: Better distribution of additional costs of AW along the food chain; more competitiveness at international level Better sharing of resources: European Network of reference centres 19

9 FUTURE POLICIES DEVELOPMENT The role of animal based measures will increase in order to grant better implementation of the principle of equivalency Scientifically validated: Welfare Quality and risk assessment. Evaluation by EFSA; Already present in some EU legislation (chicken for meat, slaughter); Internationally recognized by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) TARGET: Simplify the EU legal framework and enhance enforcement of AW standards by Member States and internationally. 22

10 International programmes Promote animal welfare in bilateral EU trade agreements with the following tools: Reinforce bilateral cooperation: Reinforce cooperation at multilateral level (OIE, FAO) Increase participation of third countries into BTSF: New world program for 2013/2014: 3 trainings on AW Health and Consumers 13

11 Better training for safer food A DG SANCO training initiative for EU and third country officials who undertake controls on food safety and veterinary issues. Legal basis: Article 51 of Regulation (EC) 882/2004 Health and Consumers

12 Third country specific aims Ensure fair trade with third, particularly developing countries Help third countries to better understand and meet EU standards Reduce rejections at EU borders and the burden on EU border inspectors Safer food for third country consumers and a more diverse product range in the EU Health and Consumers

13 BTSF in figures Around 660 events More than participants Budget of approx. 68 million Approx 30% of this activity covers third countries Health and Consumers

14 The strategic role of TAIEX to disseminate and provide technical assistance on animal welfare A number of technical national and regional events as well as expert mission on animal welfare have been carried out in new Member States, candidate and neighbouring countries to the EU while requests for assistance on animal welfare issues grow every day particularly in the Mediterranean Region. An upcoming event on animal welfare: The "Conference on stray animals to be held in Belgrade, Serbia on 17 April

15 Thank you for your attention! ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/index_en.htm