of animal welfare lawyers and commissioners
Practical EU Guides to Good and Best Practice cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep transport are available on the Animal Transport Guides website.
As slaughter, fattening, breeding and transport conditions in which animals are subject to vary, these guidelines provide practical advice for professionals to improve animal welfare.
Read more here.
The Cambridge University will provide Course on Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law from 11 to 23rd September 2016
Continue reading 11-23.09.2016 Cambridge, Course on Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law
Next year, at 150km from Bei Jing in China, a giant "cloning farm" will be created, aiming to clone domestic animals including farm animals such as cows, but also police dogs and race horses. The goal would be to produce more than 1 million of cloned cows, to solve the problem of lack of farmlands in China.
Cloning is currently prohibited in Europe, but despite the EU Parliament willing to stop imports of food product coming from cloned animals, it is still allowed for Member States to import such products after getting an authorisation. But EU legislation might change soon.
The Report has been done by Eurogroup for animals and World Horse Welfare. Among other recommendations it calls for species specific legislation to protect horses, donkeys and mules who so often fall between the cracks between legislation designed for farm or companion animals.
Read the report: http://eurogroupforanimals.org/files/news/downloads/747/eu_equine_report.pdf
After two years of investigation in 7 European Countries, Eurojust and the state of France have succeeded to arrest all the persons involved in the 2013 criminal horse meat trafic, including the leader of the criminal network. The arrested persons were originated mainly from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The inquiry has been started 5 years ago in Belgiumn but most of the trafic was located in south of France, where the horses have been slaughtered.
According to Eurojust, between 2010 and 2013, 4 700 horses have been illegally slaughtered and introduced in the food chain. Some prohibited medication were found in this meat.
Since the horse meat scandal has raised in 2003, genetic tests have been done randomly everywhere in Europe. According to the EU Commission, 5% of the meat labelled "beef" is in reality horse meat.
More on http://eurojust.europa.eu/press/PressReleases/Pages/2015/2015-04-24.aspx
Whale hunting in the Faroe Islands – E-009281/2014
Given this situation in the Faroe Islands, what can the Commission do to put an end to this despicable massacre once and for all?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009281&language=EN
Wildlife injuries from harvesters – E-010075/2014
What can the Commission do to address this problem? 2. Will the Commission finance a project group to investigate the problem and come up with possible solutions? 3. What possibilities exist to fund such a project?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-010075&language=EN
Legality of capturing birds to be used as live decoys by hunters – E-009061/2014
In the light of the EU legislation governing this issue, the substance of the two orders referred to above, the Court of Justice’s findings in its judgment in Case C‐182/02 and the guidance document on hunting under Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds, in particular paragraph 3.5.22 and the footnotes thereto, can the Commission say:
1. whether it is aware of the above orders?
2. what importance it considers should be attached to these orders for the purposes of correctly applying the Birds Directive, bearing in mind the need to observe the principle of subsidiarity?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009061&language=EN
Revision of European legislation on finning – E-009767/2014
1. Will the Commission revise the current legislation so as to enable the finning ban to be enforced in a way geared more closely to the sector’s needs as well as complying with the requirements of international law?
2. How has the fleet been helped to implement this legislation?
3. In view of the unfair competition, is the Commission providing compensation?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009767&language=EN
By-catch of deep-sea sharks, zero TAC and conservation measures – E-010864/2014
In view of the above, I ask the Commission for information on the following:
1. Is it intending to insist on maintaining a zero TAC for these species? What evidence does it have pointing to the appropriateness of a measure of this kind and confirming that a benefit for the resource will result?
2. Does it not think that the possibility of permitting by-catch of deep-sea sharks up to a set limit would encourage better understanding of the species in question, population numbers and reproduction strategies, so that more appropriate conservation measures can be devised?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-010864&language=EN
Ban on circus animals – E-009108/2014
Can the Commission clarify what actions have been taken by other Member States with regard to the ban on circus animals?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009108&language=EN
Illegal wildlife trade – E-009106/2014 and E-009559/2014
12 Nov. 2014, Marlene Mizzi (S&D) and 20 Nov. 2014, Marc Tarabella (S&D)
1. What concrete plans does the Commission have to combat the illegal wildlife trade?
2. Does the Commission consider it an urgent need to establish a global action plan to tackle the illegal wildlife trade?
What initiatives does the new Commission propose taking in order to advance the formulation of the action plan requested by the European Parliament?
Joint Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009559&language=EN
Sale of seal products – E-009544/2014
How does the Commission propose to ensure that the Convention on Biological Diversity and the principle of sustainable use are respected in the future by permitting trade in seal products from Sweden?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009544&language=EN
EU labelling, mandatory country of origin – E-009311/2014
14 Nov. 2014, Siôn Simon (S&D)
“Does the Commission have any plans to extend mandatory country of origin labelling to other agricultural and processed meat products?”
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009311&language=EN
Origin labelling – E-008915/2014
7 November 2014, Marc Tarabella (S&D)
1. What is the Commission’s position on this?
2. Could it follow the matter up, and, if these figures are confirmed, guarantee that it will set up a scheme to counter this worrying trend and its causes?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-008915&language=EN
Pure-bred poultry and the application of Directive 2009/158 /EC – E-008936/2014
7 November 2014, Daniel Caspary (PPE)
1. Is it the intention of the above Directive and of the Commission that the sale of pure-bred poultry breeds in other Member States should be banned in Germany, since the required serological tests pursuant to Article 14, paragraph 2(e), are not feasible in practice for the micro-stocks of pure-bred poultry breeders?
2. Directive 2009/158/EC provides, in Recital 7, that ‘specific trade’ should be excluded from the scope of this directive. Do pure-bred poultry markets and the act of selling at such markets by pure-bred poultry breeders constitute such ‘specific trade’?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-008936&language=EN
Goose feather collection techniques that are harmful to animal welfare – E-009497/2014
— What measures has the Commission taken to enforce the abovementioned directive and to prevent the collection of feathers from live geese which are not going through their natural moulting phase?
— Does the Commission not agree that it might be appropriate to submit a legislative proposal regarding the introduction of a voluntary mark to certify that the goose feathers were obtained without causing suffering to the animals?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009497&language=EN
Plucking of live geese – E-008277/2014
In view of this situation, what does the Commission intend to do to ensure that this recommendation is adhered to and that this practice stops?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-008277&language=EN
Protection for rabbits in European breeding farms – E-009611/2014
21 Nov. 2014, Giulia Moi (EFDD)
“1. What steps has the Commission taken to introduce species‐specific legislation for protecting the welfare of rabbits?
2. Have European funds been used to support rabbit farming and, if so, does the Commission intend to ensure that future funding is not spent on breeding rabbits in battery or enriched cages, but instead solely on breeding systems paying greater attention to their welfare?
3. Does the Commission intend to work with the Italian Government regarding the enormous quantities of antibiotics required to treat the 175 million rabbits bred yearly in the country, as well as on measures to reduce their use?”
Answer http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009611&language=EN
Transportation and slaughter of live animals outside the EU – E-010843/2014
Does the Commission intend to take concrete and urgent measures to prohibit the transportation of live animals from Europe to third countries?
Does it intend to raise awareness in such countries with a view to the harmonisation of their legislation in this matter with European legislation?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-010843&language=EN
Origin labelling for horsemeat – E-009375-14
17 Nov. 2014, Elisabetta Gardini (PPE)
In the light of the above, can the Commission answer the following questions:
1. What is the current status of the impact and feasibility assessment of the possible extension of the compulsory indication of the country of origin or area of provenance for horsemeat?
2. What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that European consumers are correctly informed in this matter and safeguard the competitivity of the Italian horsemeat sector?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009375&language=EN
Standard welfare conditions for horses across the EU – E-010234/2014
In many Member States, tourist attractions include horse-and-carriage city tours. Given that horses are sentient beings rather than machines, is the Commission considering the introduction of standard welfare conditions for working horses across the EU in order to regulate hours of rest and work and lay down requirements as regards better conditions, food and water consumption and other factors which impact upon the proper treatment of these horses?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-010234&language=EN
Killing of Excalibur – E-009748/2014
1. In view of the killing of Excalibur, what specific measures will the Commission take under the EU’s 2012-2015 Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals with a view to ensuring compliance with Protocol P4 and/or achieving the goal of zero killings?
2. Will it standardise the protocols on quarantine for biosafety reasons and euthanasia?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009748&language=EN
Transport of invertebrates – problems with application of the Regulati – P-001065/2015
The French pet shop workers' union Prodaf has already drawn the attention of DG SANCO to this issue in December 2014 and January 2015. At a meeting on 9 January2015 in Brussels between UPS and Unit G.3, reference was made to the forthcoming publication of new guidelines. I can hardly stress too much the urgency of the situation for many people working in this sector.
1. Has the Commission yet identified any possible approaches to this issue?
2. Could the Commission please state when it expects to publish these new guidelines?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=P-2015-001065&language=EN
Puppy smuggling – P-000091/2015
In their role as guardians of the treaties, the Commission and its services such as the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) are responsible for ensuring that EU legislation on animal health and welfare is properly implemented and enforced.
How does the Commission plan to ensure the enforcement of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 now that it has come into force, given the issues of enforcement with Regulation (EC) No 998/2003?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=P-2015-000091&language=EN
Pets to be included in the European Animal Welfare Act – E-010549/2014
Is the Commission considering including pets, and in particular stray dogs and cats, in the European Animal Welfare Act?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-010549&language=EN
Stray dogs in Romania during the winter – E-009782/2014
Can the Commission clarify what special measures have been taken to improve conditions for stray dogs in Romania during the winter?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-009782&language=EN
Ban on farming for fur production/animal welfare – E-011036/2014
Does the Commission intend to ban this type of farming, which clearly does not obey any animal welfare standards?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2014-011036&language=EN
Animal testing in the context of the REACH and Cosmetics regulations – P-000498/2015
Together with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the Commission has recently clarified the relationship between the marketing ban for products tested on animals under the Cosmetics Regulation ((EC) No 1223/2009) and the information requirements under the REACH Regulation ((EC) No 1907/2006). It has made clear that the testing and marketing bans in the Cosmetics Regulation do not apply to testing required for environmental endpoints, exposure of workers or non-cosmetic uses of substances under REACH.
I would therefore welcome a clarification from the Commission on why it considers such an exception to be necessary, and why the tests used to ensure consumer safety cannot be applied to worker safety
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=P-2015-000498&language=EN
Animal categories in the Animal Health Regulation – E-000711/2015
1. Why is there no category of ‘non-kept animals’ in the Animal Health Regulation?
2. Why does the Commission want to categorise stray animals as wild, instead of giving them their own category of ‘non-kept animals’?
Answer: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2015-000711&language=EN
The monument is to be placed in the pedestrian area at the centre of Hardwicke Circus, commemorating the dogs, pigeons, horses and other animals which have served on the battlefield.
More information on http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/animals-in-war-memorial-to-be-erected-on-carlisle-s-busiest-roundabout-1.1124373
30 January 2014
E-000941-14
Angelika Werthmann (ALDE)
On December 16th, 21 people have been arrested by the French police, for having taking part in a big horsemeat trafic. The meat came from horses used in laboratories. They were bought for a very low price and sold as beef. The scandal came from the fact that the horses were used for toxicologic tests and consequently were unfit for humane comsumption.
More information on http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/scandale-de-la-viande/20131216.OBS9643/viande-de-cheval-ce-que-l-on-sait-du-nouveau-scandale.html
E-012592/2013
Key Words: Agricultural EU funding and breeders of race horse in Italy
7 November 2013
Roberta Angelilli (PPE)
Continue reading Possible funding to breed racehorses in Tuscany
