17/11/20071

17/11/20072

Welfare Quality®

What: EU project 6th Framework (17 million €)

Period: 2004-2009

Partners: 40 Institutes/Universities (13 Countries)

Coordinator: H. Blokhuis, Wageningen, NL

FVE is member of the advisory Committee

17/11/20073

Aims

develop scientifically based monitoring tool for on-farm welfare assessment in accordance with societal expectations

as well as practical strategies for improving animal welfare

17/11/20074

Sub-projects

Sub-project 1 Consumers, retailers and producers concerns

Sub-project 2  Develop robust on-farm welfare monitoring and information systems

Sub-project 3  Define integrated, practicable species-specific strategies to improve farm animal welfare (cattle, pigs, poultry).

Sub-project 4  Implement a welfare monitoring and information system and develop the welfare improvement strategies.

17/11/20075

Welfare criteria

Welfare principles Meaning

Good feeding1. Absence of prolonged hunger Animals should not suffer from prolonged hunger

2. Absence of prolonged thirst Animals should not suffer from prolonged thirst

Good housing

3. Comfort around resting Animals should be comfortable, especially within their lying areas

4. Thermal comfort Animals should be in good thermal environment

5. Ease of Movement Animals should be able to moving around freely

Good health

6. Absence of injuries Animals should not be physically injured

7. Absence of disease Animals should be free of disease.

8. Absence of pain induced by management procedures

Animals should not suffer from pain induced by inappropriate management

Appropriate behaviour

9. Expression of social behaviours Animals should be allowed to express natural, non-harmful, social behaviours.

10. Expression of other behaviours Animals should have the possibility of expressing other intuitively desirable natural behaviours, such as exploration and play

11. Good human-animal relationship Good Human-animal relationships are beneficial to the welfare of animals

12. Absence of general fear Animals should not experience negative emotions such as fear, distress, frustration or apathy

17/11/20076

Progress

- 70% of time has passed- 2 stakeholders conferences held to

present outcome- Monitoring scheme: animal-based

criteria + resource based criteria- On-farm testing

17/11/20077

Animal Welfare Labelling

17/11/20078

Context

• Mentioned in the “Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006-2010" COM (2006) 14 final of 23 Jan 2006

• ECOSOC opinion on labelling NAT/342 15 March

17/11/20079

German conference

Conference “Animal Welfare - Improving by Labelling?” on 28 March

- The status quo of animal welfare labelling in the EU- Implementation of animal welfare labelling in the

EU- Animal welfare labelling – the next steps

17/11/200710

Concluding Speech Kyprianou

“The Commission is ready to take initiatives to offer and promote more information, and to encourage any private initiatives on labelling and

certification in Europe. “

“The possibility of a label to indicate conformity with EU standards should

be seriously considered. ”

17/11/200711

Council conclusions on animal welfare of 7-8 May

“calls upon the commission to further assess the issue of animal welfare

labelling in all its aspects”

“requests a report to the Council to allow in-depth debate on the subject”

Position of FVE on AW Labelling

Broilers Regulation adopted

A missed opportunity?

17/11/200714

• Draft directive published 31/05/05• Consultation- Minimum legislation• FVE WG drafted position

(FVE/05/pos/04)• Ecosoc adopted opinion (S. O’Laoide

expert)• Council working party (L. Berg, L.

Montelli)• EP adopted opinion on 2/06: B. Thijs • 7 May political Agreement Council

17/11/200715

17/11/200716

17/11/200717