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The European Commission's activities in this area start
with the recognition that animals are sentient beings. The general aim is to ensure
that animals do not endure avoidable pain or suffering, and obliges the owner/keeper
of animals to respect minimum welfare requirements.
The international importance of this issue and the commitment of the Community in
raising awareness on the issue worldwide were highlighted in an
address delivered by Commissioner Byrne to the first OIE Global conference on animal welfare on 23
February 2004.
In a speech
to the European Parliament's Intergroup on Animal Welfare
on 8 June 2005 Commissioner Markos Kyprianou provided an update
of progress regarding the Commission's initiatives to promote
animal welfare. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting
of 21-22 December 2004 Commissioner Kyprianou also announced
the Commission’s intention to develop a European Action Plan
on Animal Welfare. At the inaugural meeting of the new Advisory Group
on the Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health of 5-6 July
2005 stakeholders were invited to submit their views and comments
on the Commission’s initiative by September 2005. A public internet
consultation has also been launched on this issue.
On 30 March 2006, the first EU-level conference on animal welfare
was held in Brussels, hosted by the Austrian Presidency. The conference provided the Commission with the opportunity to present its Animal Welfare
Action Plan to Member State representatives, international partners and a broad array of stakeholders from across the food chain
EU Conference on Animal Welfare 30 March 2006
Welfare Quality: a Community-funded research project on animal welfare in the food quality chain.
Summary and proceedings of Welfare Quality conference 17-18 November 2005.
Summary of response statistics for public internet consultation on the protection and welfare of farmed animals
Results of an EU-25 EUROBAROMETER survey -
 (28Mb) -
 (8Mb)
(Vol.A -  )
(Vol.B - )
on consumers' attitudes to the welfare of farmed animals. Updated : 13-12-2005
EU FAIR Project on "Consumer concerns about animal welfare and the impact on food choice".
"Civil Society Dialogue: DG TRADE organised ad hoc meeting - sustainable production and good animal welfare practices: trade opportunities for developing countries".
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on Animal Welfare Legislation on
farmed animals in Third Countries and the Implications for the EU, 18 November 2002
(200KB)
Directorate General for Environment is responsible for the protection of
wild animals and the protection of
animals used for experimental or scientific purposes.
Directorate General Enterprise is responsible for legislation on cosmetic products, including rules on the testing
of cosmetic ingredients on animals.
Directorate for
Research organised in April 2002 a
"
Seminar on EU research on farm animal welfare".
Farm animal welfare concerns are also part of theCommon Agriculture Policy Mid-Term
Review adopted by the Commission in July 2002.
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the experience acquired by Member States since the
implementation of Council Directive 95/29/EC amending Directive 91/628/EEC concerning the protection of animals during
transport
(107KB)
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