The European Parliament’s most recent vote on farm animal welfare has received mixed reactions. MEPs voted on a report addressing EU legislation on the welfare of food-producing animals, which included proposals for new rules for animal transport and slaughter.
Compassion in World Farming EU was very disheartened by the outcome. The organisation’s head, Olga Kikou, said that, “The assembly has voted for a report that completely fails to meet its stated goal of protecting and improving the welfare of farmed animals. Instead, it has endorsed a text that reads as if it was written 50 years ago, that pays no attention to the cruelty, health risks and environmental damage caused by the factory farming system that prevails today, and ignores scientific advances that can address these problems.”
But, in a joint statement, Copa-Cogeca said the Parliament sent a signal of confidence to European livestock farmers. “Today the question of animal welfare is at the centre of many farmers’ and cooperatives’ thoughts, so it is essential that the EU offers coherency and support at various levels to support farm initiatives. The issue of animal welfare is complex and evolving, we agree that it is essential that decisions on this matter are based on solid scientific evidence, including impact assessments.”
The favourable vote came as a relief to Irish farmers. They are hopeful that the approach proposed by the European Parliament will be taken into consideration by the European Commission in its upcoming revision of animal welfare legislation.
LSL News.