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  Animal Welfare - Introductionslide
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The European Commission's activities in this area start with the recognition that animals are sentient beings. The general aim is to ensure that animals do not endure avoidable pain or suffering, and obliges the owner/keeper of animals to respect minimum welfare requirements.

The international importance of this issue and the commitment of the Community in raising awareness on the issue worldwide were highlighted in an address delivered by Commissioner Byrne to the first OIE Global conference on animal welfare on 23 February 2004.

In a speech pdf to the European Parliament's Intergroup on Animal Welfare on 8 June 2005 Commissioner Markos Kyprianou provided an update of progress regarding the Commission's initiatives to promote animal welfare. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of 21-22 December 2004 Commissioner Kyprianou also announced the Commission's intention to develop a European Action Plan on Animal Welfare. This Community Action Plan was adopted on 23 January 2006.

On 30 March 2006, the first EU-level conference on animal welfare was held in Brussels, hosted by the Austrian Presidency. The conference provided the Commission with the opportunity to present its Animal Welfare Action Plan to Member State representatives, international partners and a broad array of stakeholders from across the food chain

General animal welfare issues :

Specific animal welfare issues :

Legislation :

Contact :

Other links :

FACTSHEET: Animal welfare - Ensuring the humane and responsible treatment of farmed animals de es fr (March 2007)pdf Updated 04-06-2007

2nd Welfare Quality Stakeholder conference 'Assuring animal welfare: from societal concerns to implementation' pdf
More Information: http://www.welfarequality.net/everyone/36059

Norwegian Animal Welfare Action Plan

The Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture took an initiative in 2001, which resulted in the publishing of a white paper (Proposition to the Storting) regarding animal husbandry and animal welfare. The white paper was published in 2002 and constitutes a broad review and evaluation of all animal care in Norway from an ethical and welfare perspective. It also includes proposals for long term goals and actions, hereunder an ethical platform.

Joint EU, CoE and OIE press release on Animal Welfare Declaration

OIE press release on Animal Health and Welfare Fund

EU Conference on Animal Welfare 30 March 2006

Welfare Quality: a Community-funded research project on animal welfare in the food quality chain.

Summary and proceedings of Welfare Quality conference 17-18 November 2005. pdf

Summary of response statistics for public internet consultation on the protection and welfare of farmed animals

Results of an EU-25 EUROBAROMETER survey pdf - ppt (28Mb) - Flash (8Mb)
( Vol.A pdf - excel ) ( Vol.B pdf - excel ) on consumers' attitudes to the welfare of farmed animals. Updated : 13-12-2005

EU FAIR Project on "Consumer concerns about animal welfare and the impact on food choice".

"Civil Society Dialogue: DG TRADE organised ad hoc meeting - sustainable production and good animal welfare practices: trade opportunities for developing countries".

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on Animal Welfare Legislation on farmed animals in Third Countries and the Implications for the EU, 18 November 2002 es da de el fr it nl pt fi sv pdf (200KB)

Directorate General for Environment is responsible for the protection of wild animals and the protection of animals used for experimental or scientific purposes.

Directorate General Enterprise is responsible for legislation on cosmetic products, including rules on the testing of cosmetic ingredients on animals.

Directorate for Research organised in April 2002 a " Seminar on EU research on farm animal welfare".

Farm animal welfare concerns are also part of theCommon Agriculture Policy Mid-Term Review adopted by the Commission in July 2002.

Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since the
implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during
transport de fr pdf (107KB)

 
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