AMENDMENTS EN United in diversity EN. European Parliament Draft report Stefan Eck. PE v01-00

Transcription

1 European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development 2016/2077(INI) AMDMTS Draft report Stefan Eck (PE v01-00) Minimum Standards for the Protection of Farm Rabbits (2016/2077(INI)) AM\ docx PE v01-00 United in diversity

2 AM_Com_NonLegReport PE v /114 AM\ docx

3 1 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 7 a (new) - having regard to the European Food Safety Authority's Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport of 12 January 2011, 2 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 7 b (new) - having regard to the European Food Safety Authority's Scientific Opinion related to "The Impact of the current housing and husbandry systems on the health and welfare of farmed domestic rabbits" of 11 October 2005, 3 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 7 c (new) - having regard to chapter 7.5 of the World Organisation for Animal Health's AM\ docx 3/114 PE v01-00

4 (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code on "Slaughter of Animals", 4 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 7 d (new) - having regard to the UK Government's Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Rabbits, 5 Paolo De Castro, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas European producers are required to meet high standards of animal health and welfare that are not always compulsory in third countries exporting animals for slaughter to the EU; whereas consumers are becoming increasingly attentive to the conditions under which animals are being reared; Or. it 6 Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Nicola Caputo, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis PE v /114 AM\ docx

5 Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas rabbit farming has been very hard hit by the decline in meat consumption in the European Union and the economic crisis in farming, and whereas sales prices have fallen by some 20% in three years, while production costs have remained constant; 7 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas, likewise, account should be taken of the nutritional contribution made by rabbit meat and the role its production plays in family-run businesses, accounting for a significant share of jobs for women in many rural areas where there are few possibilities for livestock diversification; 8 Angélique Delahaye, Michel Dantin Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas just as much account should be taken of the welfare of farmers as of animal welfare; AM\ docx 5/114 PE v01-00

6 9 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Michel Dantin Recital B B. whereas the majority of rabbits are farmed for meat production, with over 340 million rabbits slaughtered for meat ever year; whereas more than three quarters of all rabbit farming in the EU takes place in Italy, Spain and France; B. whereas in Europe the majority of rabbits are farmed for meat production, which amounts to some tonnes of carcases, whereas more than three quarters of all rabbit farming takes place in Italy, Spain and France and whereas rabbit farming represents less than 1% of final livestock production in the EU; 10 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Paolo De Castro Recital B B. whereas the majority of rabbits are farmed for meat production, with over 340 million rabbits slaughtered for meat ever year; whereas more than three quarters of all rabbit farming in the EU takes place in Italy, Spain and France; B. whereas the majority of rabbits are farmed for meat production, with over 340 million rabbits slaughtered for meat ever year; whereas more than three quarters of all rabbit farming in the EU takes place in Italy, Spain and France, although it represents less than 1% of the EU's final livestock production; 11 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Viorica Dăncilă, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Paolo De Castro Recital B a (new) PE v /114 AM\ docx

7 Ba. whereas it is both important and necessary to achieve and maintain profitable rabbit production so that it can continue to help preserve the rural fabric and employment, particularly for women, in areas where other types of production are not possible, as well as continuing to offer varied, high-quality food to consumers; 12 Stefan Eck, Luke Ming Flanagan Recital B a (new) B a. whereas the rabbit farming sector in the EU faces a steady decline and the projections for 2016 point to a decrease in the market of 3.9% whilst the rabbit farming sector operates in the global market conditions and does not benefit from direct aid or market interventions under Pillar I of the Common Agricultural Policy; 13 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot, Ricardo Serrão Santos Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the European Union is the prime producer of rabbits in the world, ahead of Asia and particularly China, which, producing tonnes of carcases, is the biggest exporter; AM\ docx 7/114 PE v01-00

8 14 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Viorica Dăncilă, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu, Paolo De Castro Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas rabbit farmers and the sector as a whole have an interest in ensuring that rabbit breeding in line with the European production model continues to uphold the highest standards in the world with regard to food safety, animal health and welfare and respect for the environment; 15 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Michel Dantin Recital B c (new) Bc. whereas European rabbit farming is based on the coexistence of different production systems, and whereas rabbit farming is an important way of diversifying the income of many small farms throughout the territory, at the same time as providing a source of employment, in most cases for women; 16 Eric Andrieu, Ricardo Serrão Santos PE v /114 AM\ docx

9 Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas, with a mean consumption of 1.70 kg per inhabitant, rabbit meat is one of the least consumed meats in the Union (between 1 and 2% of all meat consumed); 17 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas rabbit production accounts for only a small share of final livestock production, at less than 1%, and the sector is currently facing economic difficulties owing to the steady decline in consumption in the EU; 18 Stefan Eck, Anja Hazekamp, Estefanía Torres Martínez, Luke Ming Flanagan Recital B b (new) B b. Whereas there is a clear consumer trend against the consumption of rabbit meat; 19 AM\ docx 9/114 PE v01-00

10 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas housing, feeding, genetics, health aspects or optimisation of the emotional state of rabbits kept for farming purposes are vital questions for stakeholders involved in rabbit farming, and whereas the subjects under debate also concern animal welfare; 20 Annie Schreijer-Pierik Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding; Or. nl 21 Michel Dantin, Esther Herranz García, Gabriel Mato, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the important questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare, PE v /114 AM\ docx

11 while it is necessary to bear in mind that animal welfare is based on three other major principles: health, feed and the emotional state of the animal; 22 Stanislav Polčák Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, both with regard to animal welfare and from an economic point of view, but especially with regard to animal welfare; Or. cs 23 Philippe Loiseau, Edouard Ferrand, Laurenţiu Rebega Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is a question discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; 24 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Paolo De Castro AM\ docx 11/114 PE v01-00

12 Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to maintaining health and animal welfare; 25 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital C C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal welfare; C. whereas the housing of rabbits kept for farming purposes is one of the central questions discussed among stakeholders involved in their breeding, especially with regard to animal health and welfare; 26 Anja Hazekamp Recital C a (new) C a. Whereas there are grave concerns regarding the poor welfare, high stress levels, high mortality and morbidity of farm rabbits in Europe, as already concluded by EFSA in 2005; whereas some, but not all, detrimental effects on the welfare of farm rabbits are the result of poor housing systems and cages; PE v /114 AM\ docx

13 27 Stanislav Polčák Recital D D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are usually kept in battery cages, which can - and often do - vary from country to country in terms of their specifications; Or. cs 28 Karin Kadenbach, Susanne Melior, Maria Noichl Recital D D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; 29 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot Recital D D. whereas the majority of rabbits in D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, the EU are kept in battery cages; whereas AM\ docx 13/114 PE v01-00

14 often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; 30 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu, Paolo De Castro Recital D D. whereas the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; D. whereas, since their domestication, the majority of rabbits in the EU are kept in barren environments, often in battery cages; whereas rabbits are often housed in sheds containing 500 to breeding females and to growing rabbits; 31 Paolo De Castro, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; deleted Or. it 32 Annie Schreijer-Pierik PE v /114 AM\ docx

15 Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; deleted Or. nl 33 Nuno Melo Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; deleted 34 Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas rabbit farming already complies with European rules on food safety, hygiene and animal welfare, which are among the most stringent in the world; AM\ docx 15/114 PE v01-00

16 35 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas scientific studies need to be launched to establish animal welfare indicators for the various types of rabbit farming, taking into account, among other factors, the modification of the behaviour of these animals in the absence of predators in captive production systems; 36 Stanislav Polčák Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas, for the purposes of intensive farming, breeds of rabbit which grow quickly and early - formerly called 'meat rabbits' - are used, in particular commercial hybrids used in industrial breeding farms for the production of meat animals - rabbits bred especially for the purposes of intensive farming; Or. cs 37 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu, Paolo De Castro Recital E PE v /114 AM\ docx

17 E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas the rabbit, like other species that coexist with humans, keeps elements of its natural behaviour, and research therefore needs to be carried out in this area and measures and conditions implemented during rearing to ensure as far as possible that rabbits are able to maintain this behaviour, provided that it is positive for their own health; 38 Ulrike Müller, Jasenko Selimovic, Jens Rohde Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour; 39 Philippe Loiseau, Edouard Ferrand, Laurenţiu Rebega Recital E E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems have severe negative implications for its welfare; E. whereas the domesticated rabbit has kept most of the wild rabbit s natural behaviour, and intensive farming systems can have severe negative implications for its welfare; 40 AM\ docx 17/114 PE v01-00

18 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Viorica Dăncilă, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas there is a lack of research, development and innovation in relation to rabbit breeding (health, animal welfare, medication, etc.), which is a consequence of its slight economic interest for businesses given its low economic value and low level of significance in European animal production as a whole; 41 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu Recital E b (new) Eb. whereas, up to now, there is a lack of sufficient research and information that would make it possible to resolve the challenges in relation to health and behaviour that arise as a consequence of rearing rabbits in groups and on the ground, and that compromise rabbit health and welfare; 42 Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot, Ricardo Serrão Santos Recital F F. whereas in organic production F. whereas at present European law PE v /114 AM\ docx

19 systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; on organic farming does not include any specific rules on rabbit production, whereas organic production depends on national rules, some of which advocate that rabbits be raised in group pens equipped with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen; 43 Stanislav Polčák Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas organic production systems where rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture and more space overall are a possible alternative to battery farming; Or. cs 44 Annie Schreijer-Pierik Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social F. whereas, owing to the absence of natural predators, rabbits kept in group pens no longer necessarily display natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and AM\ docx 19/114 PE v01-00

20 interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; Or. nl 45 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; whereas, however, these group housing systems pose problems in relation to aggressiveness among the animals, as a consequence of bringing together batches of animals or keeping females with different litters in the same pen, causing lesions that affect their health and welfare; whereas rearing animals on the ground increases the problems encountered in controlling infections and parasites, leading to increased disease and mortality among the rabbits; 46 Tibor Szanyi Recital F PE v /114 AM\ docx

21 F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; notes that health problems may also occur in group pens, such as increase of diseases, mainly transmitted by oro-fecal route and higher mortality rates, while negative social interactions (aggressiveness, fighting, cannibalism) are also possible; 47 Nuno Melo Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; notes that group pens suffer from greater incidence of health problems (increase of diseases, mainly transmitted by oro-fecal route and higher mortality rates) due to poor hygiene and as consequence of negative social interactions (e.g. aggressiveness, fighting, cannibalism...). AM\ docx 21/114 PE v01-00

22 48 Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas organic production systems are subject to a stringent requirements, with extremely expensive infrastructure, which do not currently allow organic rabbit farming to be developed viably; whereas even if group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen allow rabbits to develop in adequate space, this type of housing is liable to impair rabbits' health because of diseases communicated from one individual to another through social interaction and infections due to aggression and violence; whereas cannibalism also occurs among the animals; 49 Karin Kadenbach, Susanne Melior, Maria Noichl Recital F F. whereas in organic production systems rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; F. whereas in organic production systems fattening rabbits are kept in group pens with access to a small area of pasture at the base of the pen, which allows the rabbits more space, increased social interaction and more opportunities for natural behaviour such as gnawing on wooden blocks, eating hay, hiding in tubes and under platforms, standing on their hind legs, lying stretched out, hopping and jumping; PE v /114 AM\ docx

23 50 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas, however, research needs to be carried out on the social problems posed by group housing systems, such as increased aggression as a consequence of bringing together batches of animals or rearing females with different litters, which may cause lesions that affect their health and welfare, and whereas it is also more difficult to control infections and parasites; 51 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos Recital F b (new) Fb. whereas the European Animal Welfare Strategy argued that existing legislation should be fully implemented before introducing more legislation, and the development of guides to best practice should be encouraged; 52 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin AM\ docx 23/114 PE v01-00

24 Recital F b (new) Fb. whereas research needs to be undertaken to develop alternative production systems such as organic production, that would exist alongside traditional production systems; 53 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu, Paolo De Castro Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas, as in the case of other species such as poultry, research might be undertaken into alternative production systems, including organic production systems, that can offer consumers a wider range of food products and have hitherto been developed only to a limited extent; 54 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital F c (new) Fc. whereas, at present, insufficient research and information is available to resolve the health challenges and behavioural problems that can arise as a result of the different types of rabbit farming, including systems where rabbits are reared in groups and on the ground; PE v /114 AM\ docx

25 55 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital F d (new) Fd. whereas the sector s low level of economic significance in the EU represents a strong disincentive for research and innovation aimed at improving rabbit health and welfare; 56 Nuno Melo Recital G G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; whereas Member States, notably those where the majority of rabbit meat is produced, apply their own legislation to cover rabbit farming; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum AM\ docx 25/114 PE v01-00

26 standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p Eric Andrieu, Jean-Paul Denanot, Michel Dantin Recital G G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3, and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, despite the fact that there is no specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits, whereas producer countries are updating their production methods without tightening up the rules or codes of conduct on animal welfare; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (OJ L PE v /114 AM\ docx

27 Official Journal L 10, p , , p. 7-13). 3 Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens (OJ L 203, p ). 4 Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes OJ L 221, , p Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Paolo De Castro Recital G G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of the majority of species, including rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 3 Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official the protection of laying hens. Official AM\ docx 27/114 PE v01-00

28 Journal L203, p Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Recital G G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is no specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (OJ L 10, , p. 7-13). 3 Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens (OJ L 203, p ). 4 Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 4 Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat protection of chickens kept for meat PE v /114 AM\ docx

29 production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes OJ L 221, , p Karin Kadenbach, Susanne Melior, Maria Noichl Recital G G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p G. whereas there are minimum EU standards for the protection of pigs 1, calves 2, laying hens 3 and broiler chickens 4, as well as the general Council Directive for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes 5, but there is not as yet any specific EU legislation on minimum standards for the protection of farmed rabbits; 1 Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, Official Journal L 47, p Council Directive 2008/119/EEC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves. Official Journal L 10, p Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal L203, p Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Official Journal L 182, , p Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 5 Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals 1998 concerning the protection of animals AM\ docx 29/114 PE v01-00

30 kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p kept for farming purposes. Official Journal L221, p Stefan Eck, Anja Hazekamp, Estefanía Torres Martínez, Luke Ming Flanagan Recital G a (new) G a. Whereas more and more consumers and citizens across the EU are asking for regulation and better welfare for farm rabbits; whereas some Member States have national legislation for the protection of farm rabbits in force; 62 Maria Noichl Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas the ban on the conventional caging of laying hens under Directive 1999/74/EC is now in force and has for the most part been successfully transposed in the Member States; Or. de 63 Michel Dantin, Angélique Delahaye, Jean Arthuis Recital H PE v /114 AM\ docx

31 H. whereas only a few Member States have legal requirements for rabbit farming; H. whereas by virtue of the subsidiarity principle Member States may choose to legislate on their national rabbit production if they consider it necessary to do so; 64 Stefan Eck, Anja Hazekamp, Estefanía Torres Martínez, Luke Ming Flanagan Recital H H. whereas only a few Member States have legal requirements for rabbit farming; H. whereas only a few Member States have legal requirements for rabbit farming; whereas in 2012 Austria has banned the keeping of rabbits in cages for meat production; whereas Belgium has legislation in force that aims to phase out battery cages and replace them with park systems by 2025; 65 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Recital H H. whereas only a few Member States have legal requirements for rabbit farming; H. whereas some Member States have legal requirements for rabbit farming and have developed guides to best practice in collaboration with the sector; AM\ docx 31/114 PE v01-00

32 66 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital H a (new) H a. whereas EFSA's Scientific Opinion on Animal Transport of 2011 made a number of recommendations concerning rabbit welfare during transport: these proposals included ensuring adequate ventilations so that the temperature inside the crate is maintained within a range of 5-20 degrees Celsius; whereas the same opinion pointed out that time spent inside the containers during storage before slaughter should not be considered as a resting period but as journey time and that the need for better minimum space allowance should be studied; 67 Stefan Eck, Anja Hazekamp, Estefanía Torres Martínez, Luke Ming Flanagan Recital H a (new) H a. Whereas the EU has a negative trade balance with China with regard to rabbit meat; whereas 99% of rabbit meat imports into the EU originate from China; whereas Chinese producers will outcompete EU farmers, with adverse animal welfare implications, if no actions are taken; 68 PE v /114 AM\ docx

33 Paolo De Castro, Clara Eugenia Aguilera García Recital H a (new) Ha. whereas rabbit breeding is already subject to national legislation in those Member States where rabbit meat production is principally concentrated; Or. it 69 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital H b (new) H b. whereas EFSA's Scientific Opinion on Housing and Husbandry Systems of Farmed Rabbits of 2005 recommended increases in cage size, lower maximum stocking densities for growing animals and therapeutic interventions including the use of additives to reduce disease; 70 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital H c (new) H c. whereas the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health's (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code on animal slaughter, including AM\ docx 33/114 PE v01-00

34 methods of stunning and knowledge requirements for operators, apply to rabbits; 71 Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital H d (new) H d. whereas Article 3 of Council Directive 98/58/EC on animal welfare requires "all reasonable steps" to be taken to ensure the welfare of animals, and Article 4 defines standards for keeping animals in terms of "established experience and scientific knowledge", which includes standards laid down by EFSA and the OIE; 72 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; deleted PE v /114 AM\ docx

35 73 Annie Schreijer-Pierik Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Notes that more scientific research is needed into the housing and natural behaviour of rabbits and into their ideal nutrition model, in order to reach a conclusion, on the basis of scientific findings, about how animal welfare can be improved; Or. nl 74 Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Eric Andrieu, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Notes that in the European Union rabbits are generally reared in slatted cages, which allows the environment to be sterile, keeping the animal away from soiled areas; stresses that these cages greatly promote the health quality of housing and therefore limit the risk that animals may become diseased or infected; 75 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu Paragraph 1 AM\ docx 35/114 PE v01-00

36 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Expresses its concern at the lack of research, development and innovation in relation to rabbit breeding (medication, health and welfare, inter alia), which would enable progress to be made in rabbit farming on the basis of scientific knowledge rather than unproven beliefs or prejudices; 76 Stanislav Polčák Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Expresses its concern that rabbits in some EU Member States are still being reared in unenriched cages which do not meet the conditions for optimal farming according to the latest scientific findings; Or. cs 77 Stefan Eck, Anja Hazekamp, Estefanía Torres Martínez, Luke Ming Flanagan Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour, leading to abnormal behaviour, such as over grooming and repetitive gnawing or PE v /114 AM\ docx

37 nibbling of the cage; 78 Nuno Melo Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder. 79 Philippe Loiseau, Edouard Ferrand, Laurenţiu Rebega Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Notes that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, in a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; stresses that rabbits are sometimes fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; recalls that, in general, the way in which rabbits are farmed in Europe meets far higher animal welfare standards than is the case in most countries outside Europe where rabbits are raised and exported; AM\ docx 37/114 PE v01-00

38 80 Karin Kadenbach, Susanne Melior, Maria Noichl Paragraph 1 1. Expresses its concerns that rabbits in the EU are usually reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes with concern that rabbits are fed on pellets and the close confines of the battery cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 1. Expresses its concerns that the majority of rabbits in the EU are reared in unenriched cages, a barren environment that only has a drinker and feeder; also notes that rabbits are fed without fibrous material and the close confines of the barren wire cages do not allow rabbits to express their natural behaviour; 81 Anja Hazekamp Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a. Emphasises that rabbits, due to their complex intrinsic physiological and behavioural needs are not suited to a life in production systems; calls upon the Commission and Member States, in close cooperation with all relevant stakeholders, to come forward with a roadmap which aims to phase out the keeping of rabbits for production purposes; 82 Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Gabriel Mato, Pilar Ayuso, Michel Dantin Paragraph 1 a (new) PE v /114 AM\ docx

39 1a. Supports giving a boost to research and innovation to improve rabbit farming in the European Union, whereby the EU would grant incentives aimed at resolving the health and animal welfare problems that may arise in the various production systems while at the same time promoting the profitability of European farms; 83 Michel Dantin, Gabriel Mato, Esther Herranz García, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Angélique Delahaye, Pilar Ayuso, Jean Arthuis Paragraph 2 2. Acknowledges that in some Member States alternatives to barren-cage farming of rabbits exist which reduce the incidence of disease and mortality rates and improve the welfare of farmed rabbits; 2. Acknowledges that in some Member States alternatives to barren-cage farming of rabbits exist which improve the welfare of farmed rabbits; considers, however, that these alternative systems still constitute niche production and ought to be yet further and substantially improved with regard to productivity and viability in order to meet European demand, because demand for rabbit meat from park systems remains limited by the impact of the additional production costs on the price charged to the consumer; recalls in this context that an organic rabbit farm produces some 500 rabbits per annum, whereas a conventional one produces ; 84 Clara Eugenia Aguilera García, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Eric Andrieu Paragraph 2 AM\ docx 39/114 PE v01-00