Health & Consumer Protection Directorate General What Can The Community Action Plan achieve for European Consumers Andrea Gavinelli Unit D2 Animal Welfare and Feed

2 The story so far First EU AW legislation adopted in 1974 EC Treaty Protocol enters into force 1999: pay ‘‘full regard’’ to the welfare of animals as ‘‘sentient beings’’ White Paper on Food Safety: full integration of AW into EU food chain policy, ‘‘farm to fork approach’’ CAP reforms: ‘‘cross compliance’’ and ‘‘meeting standards’’ principles The Community Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals

3 The AW Action Plan  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council that proposes five main areas of action  Outlines a range of actions for the period covering not only farm animals, also laboratory and wild animals

4 If you improve animal welfare…… 80% believed it would certainly result in better animal health 74% believed products would certainly be more ethically acceptable 58% believed would certainly result in better food quality 57% believed would certainly result in better food safety EU Web consultation – Winter 2005

5 “Consumer concerns about animal welfare and the impact on food choice” FAIR Project 2001 Consumers: Use AW as an indicator of other product attributes, such as food safety, quality and healthiness Equate good AW standards with good food standards Would like to make more informed choices Signs of higher vegetarianism in the young, mainly for ethical reasons

6 Introducing standardised AW indicators Development, management, research of welfare indicators Exchange of information and formation of the « auditors » Stakeholder interaction, best practices A European Centre for the protection and welfare of animals.

7 An informed keeper and general public: the best advocates for AW Establishment of a specific information platform on animal welfare Dialogue and exchange of experiences between stakeholders

8 Animal welfare labelling: Enable consumers to make an informed choice and producers to benefit from market opportunities Possible ways forward : Development of standardised animal welfare indicators Classification and harmonised certification of animal welfare standards applied Systematic exploration of options for labelling

9 CAP Measures with a particular potential to address animal welfare issues Investments in agricultural holdings Agri-environment/animal welfare Processing and marketing of agricultural products Training “Meeting standards” chapter “Food quality” chapter Setting-up of farm advisory systems

10 CAP reform – RD - Food quality Support for 1.Farmers’ participation in FQS 2.Activities to inform consumers, 3.Promotion of products produced under quality schemes. 4.Public support up to 70% of eligible project costs.

11 E U R O B A R O M E T E R Thinking about animal welfare when purchasing "

12 E U R O B A R O M E T E R 66% Estonia57% Hungary60% Latvia65% Lithuania 56% Malta79% Poland 74% Slovakia68% Slovenia66% Do you believe that buying animal welfare friendly products could have a positive impact on the welfare/protection of farm animals? Answers:Total "Yes"

13 E U R O B A R O M E T E R Are consumers ready to pay more for a better welfare for laying hens? What additional price premium would you be willing to pay for hen’s eggs sourced from an animal welfare friendly production system? Answers:Total "Additional"

14 Working towards international consensus WTO Multilateral animal welfare standards – OIE, Council of Europe Multilateral and bilateral agreements Labelling of animal products Supporting further research on the links between animal health and animal welfare

15 Some economic aspects from the “broilers” side… Irrespective of new welfare measures incomes in the Dutch poultry sector negative over the last 3 years New Community rules would add cents to the cost of producing a chicken But in 2002 average UK net margin per bird only 3 p !! Cost of producing 1kg of chicken meat: 0.72€ in Brazil, 1.35€ in UK !! How to adapt our production and who will bear the costs: farmers, processors, retailers, consumers… governments ?

16 Creating Business Opportunity through Improved Animal Welfare (International Finance Corporation client resources *) The note demonstrates how good principles of animal welfare in investments in livestock operations in emerging markets could represent a way to improve quality and productivity. *

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