1. EU Reference Centres for Animal Welfare
DG SANTE meeting of the Directors of EU Reference Laboratories in the field of animal health and food and feed safety
Denis SIMONIN
Head of sector Animal welfare
unit G2, DG SANTE
European Commission December 2017

2. EU Reference Centres for animal welfare
LEGAL BASIS
The Official Controls Regulation (OCR)
Articles
95 & 96
+ Recital 73
Animal Welfare Reference Centres
They will assist EU countries in their official controls by carrying out scientific and technical studies, conducting training courses and disseminating research findings and information on technical innovations. The EU References Centres will also provide the scientific and technical expertise on methods to assess and improve the welfare of animals.
Competences:
Strengthening the multi-disciplinary approach (by promoting studies on animal health, genetics, physiology, behaviour, and animal-human interaction)
Which animals? Livestock
Developing indicators & application methods
pan-european scientific dissemination
Training to Commission & Competent Authorities
Timing:
To be designated by 29 April 2018 (by implementing act)

3. EU Reference Centres for animal welfare
Designation
Recital 73: For the performance of official controls in the field of animal welfare, the competent authorities should have access to consistent technical data, research findings, new techniques and expertise necessary for the correct application of Union legislation applicable in the area.
For that purpose, the Commission should be able to designate EU Reference Centres for animal welfare.

4. EU Reference Centres for animal welfare
Designation (2)
Art. 95: "The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, designate European Union reference centres for animal welfare that shall support the activities of the Commission and of the Member States"
According to the 2nd paragraph of art. 95, the designations shall follow a public selection process and be limited in time or reviewed regularly.

5. EU Reference Centres for animal welfare
Art. 95: Obligations of the Centres
Act impartially
Possess a high level of scientific and technical expertise
Have suitably qualified staff
Possess, or have access to, the infrastructure, the equipment and products necessary to carry out the tasks

6. EU Reference Centres for animal welfare
Art. 96: Responsibilities and tasks
Scientific & technical expertise
Develop animal welfare indicators
Methods of assessment and improvement
Scientific and technical studies
Training Member States + non-EU Countries
Dissemination of research findings and technical innovations
MANDATE AND TASKS
In accordance with the Official Controls Regulation, the reference centres will support the activities of the Commission and of the Member States in relation to the application of the rules laying down welfare requirements for animals.
All tasks to be executed by the centres are foreseen to increase the performance of official controls in the field of animal welfare and so to help the enforcement of the current legislation.
Animal Welfare Reference Centre
Competences:
Strenghtening the multi-disciplinary approach (by promoting studies on animal health, genetics, physiology, behaviour, and animal-human interaction)
Which animals? Livestock + animals for commercial and scientific purpose
Developing indicators & application methods
pan-european scientific dissemination,
Training to Commission & competent Authorities
OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMMISSION
Art. 99 OCR:
The Commission shall publish and update, whenever necessary, the list of European Union reference centres for animal welfare provided for in Article 95.
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to supplement OCR concerning the establishment of requirements, responsibilities and tasks for the EU reference centres for animal welfare. Such delegated acts shall be limited to situations of new or emerging risks , new or emerging animal diseases or where new legal requirements so warrant.
EU reference centres shall be subject to Commission controls to verify compliance with the requirements of art. 93, 94, 95 and 97.
If these controls show NON-COMPLIANCE with the requirements laid down in art. 93, 94, 95 and 97, the Commission shall, after having received the comments of the EU reference centre: 1) by menans of an implementing act, withdraw the designation of that centre or 2) take any other appropriate measure.

7. Livestock + Animals for commercial and scientific purpose
Which animals?
Livestock + Animals for commercial and scientific purpose

8. 1st EU Reference Centre for animal welfare
Support Member States and the Commission in the area of animal welfare, in line with art. 96 OCR
Dedicated to the welfare of pigs
MILESTONE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IN EU
It is considered as a milestone in the field of animal welfare in the European Union
The centre will support horizontal activities in the area of animal welfare with a particular focus on official controls carried put to enforce requirements for the welfare of pigs.
Reference to the Council Directive 2008/120/EC which lays down minimum standards for the protection of pigs.

9. Specific tasks of the Centre
Risk-based approach for official controls' organisation and performance in animal welfare
Data on welfare of pigs
Indicators to verify compliance with legal requirements
Consultation of relevant stakeholders
The specific tasks of the Centre, defined in its annual (or multi-annual) work program, may
include for example:
- development of risk-based approach for official controls' organisation and performance in the
area of animal welfare;
- development and collection, from different points along the food chain, of comparable data on
the welfare of animals with a particular focus on pigs aiming to provide the Commission with an
overview of the situation in the pig sector;
- development of measurable criteria and specific indicators to verify compliance with the animal
welfare legal requirements, with a particular focus on those included in Directives 98/58/EC6 and
2008/120/EC7 and bearing in mind the parameters outlined in Commission Recommendation
(EU) 2016/3368 to be considered when assessing a pig farm for tail biting risk;
- consultation of relevant stakeholders to ensure that controls are fit for purpose.
The Centre will operate in close coordination with the Commission and provide, at the request of
the Commission, its technical expertise.

10. Why on pigs? One of the main priorities of the Commission
Many efforts made by the Commission to enforce Directive 2008/120/EC
Recommendation (EU) 2016/336
Staff working document
Educational materials etc.
Competent authorities need long term support in this field

11. Progressively assess real needs
Why only one centre?
Step by step approach
Limited resources
Pilot
Progressively assess real needs
Since the role of EU reference centres on animal welfare is quite different from the EU reference laboratories that esist in other areas, it is necessary to build on a step by step approach and learn from the experience rather than directly setting up a complex network of centres.
An important factor to be taken into consideration is the available budget
Starting with only one reference centre will allow us to develop activities on a step by step basis adjusting over the years to the evolving needs
It will also permit to progressively assess the real needs at EU level, while taking into account the resources already dedicated to this topic by some Member States.

12. Timing Designation: by 29 April 2018
Call for selection launched in October
Applications, only submitted by national competent authorities , under evaluation
Designation by Commission Implementing Act (foreseen to be adopted in the 2nd Q 2018)
Designated for at least 5 years
According to art. 167 of OCR, the Centre has to be designated within one year from the entry into force of the Regulation.

13. Other EC activities in the field of Animal Welfare
Created in 2017 as a stakeholder's dialogue
75 members from Member States, International organisations, industry, NGOs, independent experts
Promote enforcement through sharing of best practices
Increase voluntary commitments
EU PLATFORM ON ANIMAL WELFARE

14. Other EC activities in the field of Animal Welfare (2)
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON REDUCING THE NEED FOR TAIL DOCKING

15. Thank you for your attention!