BVA supports animal welfare law
The British Veterinary Association has backed new plans by the European Parliament as it calls for a science-based European animal welfare framework law.
MEPs are promoting new rules on labelling including non-stun slaughter, better controls and tough sanctions, equivalent welfare standards for imported animals and products, and species-specific welfare legislation.
The European Commission have been urged by MEPs to come forward with a holistic EU strategy on animal welfare by adopting a report by Swedish MEP Marit Paulsen. The resolution, put together in response to the Commission’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015, calls for a clear-cut and transparent approach based on scientific evidence to protect the welfare of all animals kept by humans; farm and zoo animals as well as pets.
BVA President Carl Padgett welcomed the report and commented: “As a profession we are delighted that the report emphasises the importance of scientific evidence and that animal welfare requirements should be evaluated on the basis on the latest scientific knowledge.”