MEP warns on Pig Welfare Reforms
An MEP has called on the European Commission to intervene after it was revealed that only three (Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom) of the 27 EU Member States currently comply with new welfare laws on Sow Stall Compliance. The ban on individual sow stalls systems is due to come into force on January 1st 2013, but information published by the Commission reveals that only seven of 27 EU Member States are projected to be in compliance with the law by the time it comes into force.
Mr George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, argued that “At present, it appears that Member States around Europe are burying their heads in the sand on the introduction of new animal welfare laws to improve the conditions of pregnant sows.”
“They are showing the same worrying complacency as they did over the laying hen welfare reforms. UK producers spent millions in complying with the legislation on improving the welfare of hens but this diligence was undermined by the Commission’s reluctance to force the issue with non-compliant Member States well before the deadline. That has led to a situation where millions of illegally produced eggs are still being sold on the European market to consumers. These figures are deeply worrying as it appears to confirm we are heading for a re-run of the eggs fiasco.”
“That cannot be allowed to happen. The Commission must take urgent action to force these non-compliant countries to get their act together and respect the deadline set at the end of this year. Otherwise consumers and producers will begin to believe that EU rules are not worth the paper they are printed on.”
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
