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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
 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
FACTSHEET: Animal welfare - Ensuring the humane and responsible treatment of farmed animals
(March 2007) Updated 04-06-2007
2nd Welfare Quality Stakeholder conference 'Assuring animal welfare: from societal concerns to implementation'
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.
Summary of response
statistics for public internet consultation
on the protection and welfare of farmed
animals
Results of an
EU-25
EUROBAROMETER survey
-
(28Mb)
-
(8Mb)
(
Vol.A
-
) (
Vol.B
-
) 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
(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
(107KB)
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