|
The Protocol on Animal Welfare annexed to Treaty of the European Union obliges European policy makers to fully consider animal welfare in the drafting and implementation of legislation.
I have therefore advocated that animal welfare questions need to be integrated more fully into food policy and be part of the tasks of the future European Food Safety Authority. In fact, I see a particularly important role for scientific advice in improving animal welfare legislation. In addition, the experience of national authorities with enforcement of welfare rules, the reports of the inspections performed by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office, and information officially provided by animal welfare organisations must be taken into account.
An area of particular concern is the protection of animals during long distance transport. The transport of horses from Eastern and Central European countries has my special attention. This issue is systematically raised with the candidate countries during the preparations for their EU membership. The ongoing revision of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transports will help ensure an acceptable level of animal welfare protection in Europe and elsewhere.
But the international dimension of this matter has proven to be very problematic. The issue of compatibility with WTO rules arises if action were to be taken against transport arriving from third countries. During the WTO negotiations in Seattle one thing became very clear: the EU had essentially no support for its animal welfare objectives. We will nonetheless continue our efforts in the new round launched at Doha, because multilateral discussions within the WTO are the best means to improved standards at the international level.
Commissioner, David Byrne
An overview of existing policy, legislation and ongoing initiatives on animal welfare is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/aw/index_en.html
|
