7 Action Plan on the protection and welfare
of animals
| (27243)
5734/06
COM(06) 13
+ ADD 1
+ADD 2
| Commission Communication on a Community Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals 2006-2010
Commission Working Document on a Community Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals 2006-2010: Strategic basis for the proposed actions
Commission Staff Working Document: Annex to the Community Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals 2006-2010: Impact Assessment
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 23 January 2006
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 31 January 2006
|
| Department | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 9 February 2006
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council | February 2006
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
7.1 Since 1974, the Community has adopted an increasing body of
legislation on the protection and welfare of animals. Initially,
this tended to concentrate on farmed animals, with more specific
provisions being adopted for intensively reared species, such
as calves, pigs and laying hens, but latterly it has been expanded
under Treaty's environmental provisions to cover other issues
such as humane trapping standards, the trade in wildlife, and
the keeping of animals in zoos.
The current document
7.2 In this document, the Commission has presented a Community
Action Plan intended to identify the initiatives which it proposes
to take in this area during the period 2006-10.
It says that its main objectives are:
- to define more clearly the
direction of Community policies on animal protection and welfare;
- to continue to promote high animal welfare standards
within the Community and at international level;
- to provide greater coordination of existing resources,
while identifying future needs;
- to support future trends in animal welfare research;
and
- to ensure a more consistent and coordinated approach
to animal protection and welfare across Community policy areas,
whilst also taking into account aspects such as the socio-economic
impact of any new measures.
7.3 The Commission goes on to identify five main
areas of action, which it says cannot be considered on a stand-alone
basis, but rather need to be addressed on a coordinated basis.
These are:
- the upgrading of existing minimum
standards for animal protection and welfare in line with new scientific
advice, as well as considering specific minimum standards for
species or areas which are not currently addressed in Community
legislation, with particular attention being given to efficient
enforcement and the need to take into account the rules governing
international trade;
- giving a high priority to promoting policy-orientated
research on animal protection and welfare;
- introducing standardised animal welfare indicators
which would classify the hierarchy of standards applied in order
to assist the development of improved animal welfare production
and husbandry methods, and the labelling of products;
- ensuring that animal keepers or handlers and
the general public are more involved and informed on current standards
of animal protection and welfare and fully appreciate their role
in promoting these; and
- continue to support and initiate further international
steps to raise awareness and create a greater consensus on animal
welfare.
The Government's view
7.4 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 9 February 2006,
the Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare
at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr
Ben Bradshaw) comments that the Action Plan provides a strategic
framework for further work by the Commission on improving animal
welfare, but that many of the proposed actions have been known
for some time. On the other hand, although the Government supports
the overall objectives of the Plan, he suggests that the development
of quantifiable animal welfare indicators will be a complex undertaking
for both the Commission and the Member States.
Conclusion
7.5 Given the public interest in animal welfare,
we think it right to draw this initiative to the attention of
the House, but, as the Commission's intentions are expressed in
very general terms, and will (if implemented) be the subject of
further, more specific proposals, we see no reason to withhold
clearance.
|
