EC prepares for 2013 Sow Stall ban
The European Commission has insisted that it has drawn lessons from the troubled introduction of the recent battery cage egg ban as it prepares to introduce the forthcoming partial ban on Sow Stalls, which is due to take effect on January 1st. Twelve member states have confirmed that they will be in a position to fully comply with the ban by the time it comes into force, but the other fifteen member states have not given such assurances.
Head of the European Commission's Animal Welfare Unit Andrea Gavinelli told a breakfast meeting of MEPs held in Brussels on Tuesday that seven member states have stated that they will be 'at least 90 per cent compliant', five more will be in a state of 70-89 per cent compliance, and the remaining three do not possess provisions to be in a state of compliance by the start date since they are currently only in a 28-60 pet cent state of compliance. EU Health Commissioner John Dalli has already written to the Agriculture Ministers of the various member states reminding them of what is required of them in this matter.
Commenting on the news, Director of the National Pig Association Stewart Houston said “The good name of the European pig industry and European pork depends on the stalls directive being implemented fully, faithfully, and on time. Anything less will undermine the considerable investment being made by compliant producers and will also be letting down European consumers, most of whom are clear that they want all sows out of stalls — as they have been in the United Kingdom for thirteen years.”
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.
