One of the areas that gives me particular satisfaction in my area of responsibility is animal welfare, law and policy. Animal welfare has now been ingrained into the EU Lisbon Treaty as one of the values of Europe.
… pressure helped to make many member states redouble their efforts for compliance- John Dalli
Over the last three decades, EU Animal Welfare Law has developed in response to specific prompting from EU citizens. Today, we are regulating in some detail certain areas such as the transport of animals and the housing of pigs and laying hens. Other areas are regulated through import bans, such as the ban on the import of fur of dogs, cats and seals. Member states still have the competence for animal welfare regulations and are exclusively responsible for regulating, for example, the keeping of pets.
Last month, I launched the second Animal Welfare Stategy 2012-2015, aimed at providing increased coherence while stressing the need for better enforcement of existing regulations. At the same time the strategy emphasises the need for education and training of regulators, enforcers and the public at large.
One major departure from the past is the introduction of the notion of animal welfare indicators which can and will be scientifically developed by linking a network of animal welfare reference centres, which are also being proposed by the strategy. Therefore, action within the animal welfare regime will in the future be based on outcomes and results rather than emphasis in method.
Clearly, voluntary compliance is the ideal way to improve any regulatory framework. Meanwhile we are consolidating the existing structures through firm, consistent and uniform enforcement.
A major challenge was presented with the EU law on the enrichment of cages for laying hens which, after a transition period of 12 years was to be fully implemented and complied with by all member states on January 1, 2012.
From the first weeks of my mandate I made it very clear that I will not consider any derogations or extensions for implementation. I continuously alerted member states to the need to give the Commission accurate and updated information about the implementation status in their countries. This pressure helped to make many member states redouble their efforts for compliance. As a consequence the non compliance level was far lower than that anticipated by the media in the run up to the deadline for implementation.
We asked for a definitive status report by December 20, on which basis the Commission was to take the first steps by issuing a letter of formal notice. We received most of these reports that indicated full compliance by some member states and varying levels of non compliance on others. In the case of Malta there was no reply. The Commission started its actions against all non-compliant member states. Malta sent its report in mid January confirming their decision to cull all hens coming from non-compliant cages, following assurances given verbally to the Commission. This communication was made in time to be struck off the list of member states against which action was to be taken.
Meanwhile, another long transition on another EU law regulating the stalls in which sows are kept will come into force at the end of this year. I have already declared that the deadline will be respected and I will be pushing member states to comply.
It is my firm belief that consistency of implementation of the various laws and regulations will provide the simplified and flexible framework that gives the certainty required to the benefit of operators as well as the citizens who want to see proper effective procedures in the treatment of animals.
EU Commissioner Health and Consumer Policy.