Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Looking back the first Community legislation on farm animal welfare was adopted in 1974 to reflect the basic five freedoms (freedom from discomfort, from hunger and thirst, from fear and distress, from pain, injury and disease and freedom to express natural behaviour).
Since the new Treaty on the functioning of the European Union entered into force in 2009, animals are defined as sentient beings and must be respected in the EU decision-making process.
To ensure that animal welfare policies were respected on long term in the strategies of the EU, a Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals was adopted in 2006.
Community Action Plan 2006-2010
The Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals, adopted by the European Commission on 23 January 2006, embodies the Commission's commitment to EU citizens, stakeholders, the European Parliament and the Council for a clear map of the Commission’s planned animal welfare initiatives for the coming years. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council 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 Impact Assessment of a Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010
May 2010: the European Parliament opinion on the 2006 Action Plan
The evaluation of the EU Policy on Animal Welfare (EU PAW)
In November 2009, the Commission mandated an external consultant to evaluate the EU policy on Animal Welfare with reference to farm animals, experimental animals, pet animals and wild animals which are kept in captivity or submitted to a treatment which is controlled by humans. The evaluation was completed in December 2010 and will be used as a basis for a future EU action plan (now called the strategy).
For the results and background of the evaluation performed by the external consultant, see: www.eupaw.eu
Preparing for a second EU Strategy on the protection and welfare of animals 2011-2015
From January 2011 the Commission is preparing a second EU strategy for the protection and welfare of animals (2011-2015) foreseen to be adopted in December 2011.
The Commission organised a meeting with the Member States (on 17.1.2011) and with the main EU stakeholders (on 31.1.2011) to present the result of an evaluation on the EU policy for animal welfare carry out by an external consultant as well as present the possible policy options for the future strategy.
For the possible policy options for the future strategy see the power point presentation (for stakeholders):