The German agriculture department has launched a new initiative designed to make animal welfare a high priority.
Consumer concerns about animal welfare are being addressed through this initiative, “A Question of Attitude — New ways of improving animal welfare,” explained Dr. Maria Flachsbarth, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, speaking at an animal welfare symposium organized by the Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture (KTBL) and reported on ThePigSite.
The initiative aims to achieve real improvements for animals in a reasonable time frame without losing sight of the economic factors. “We need to keep an eye on the efficiency and competitiveness of livestock farmers, because it would serve neither the consumer nor the animals if the livestock trade should move to other countries,” she says.
Flachsbarth urges progress in animal welfare through “voluntary mandatory” changes before legislative action is required.
In an effort to advance animal welfare at the European level, Germany has joined forces with Denmark and the Netherlands to adopt a Declaration for Animal Welfare in Europe.