Under the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Commission announced a revision of animal welfare legislation by the end of 2023. Subject to revision are directives on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes – laying hens, broilers, pigs and calves, as well as regulations on the protection of animals during transport and at the time of killing.
Animal welfare issues were also recently debated in the European Parliament. An implementation report by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) was adopted.
The panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also begun consultations on Farm to Fork guidance. The European Commission mandated the EFSA to develop scientific opinions on several animal welfare issues – this draft is open for consultation online until 28 March, 2022.
Mandates here include the welfare of animals during transport, such as calves, laying hens, broilers, pigs, ducks, geese, quails and dairy cows.
A guidance document will define methods and strategies, list and describe welfare consequences that are known to affect animals.
Opinions requested by the European Commission as a “key component” to the Farm to Fork strategy will be published between June 2022 and March 2023.
LSL News.