Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

The Welfare of pigs Enforcement of the pig directive

Intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animalsMeeting 14 March 2013

Denis SimoninDG Health and ConsumersUnit G3 Animal Welfare

The views expressed here are purely those of the writer and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission

EU Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015

The EU Animal Welfare Strategy identified lack of enforcement as one of the main issues

Measures have been identified which could contribute to improve compliance across EU is:Actions to be taken by Member States to correct situations of non-complianceInfringement procedures launched by CommissionTo develop guidelines for more specific interpretation of EU legislationDissemination of knowledge

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Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Directive 2008/120 laying down minimum standards for the protection of

pigsRequirements set to ensure the welfare of pigs include:

a) Housing – floors, temperature, light and soundb) Behavioural needsc) Feed and waterd) Procedurese) Competence of handlers

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Health andConsumers

Key enforcement issues and actions

1. Group housing of sows

2. Tail docking and manipulable materials

3. Flooring

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Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

• Article 3(4): Member States shall ensure that sows and gilts are kept in groups during a period starting from 4 weeks after the service to 1 week before the expected time of farrowing.

• Since 1 January 2013, group housing of sows is compulsory in all EU pig holdings with 10 sows or more

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Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

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Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

Essential to enforce EU legislation:

• Avoid unfair competition

• Credibility of the EU in applying welfare legislation

• No practical means to differentiate between animals and

products obtained from compliant or non-compliant farms.

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Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

Member States are primarily responsible for the

implementation

In line with Regulation 882/2004 on official controls, they

must:

Ask non-compliant producers to take corrective actions (Art 54)

Sanction, where necessary, non–compliant producers (Art 55)

Commission shall ensure that Member States apply the EU

welfare legislation

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Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

Based on data provided by the Member States

•11 fully comply (AT, BG, CZ, EE, LT, LU, LV, RO, SK, SE, UK)

•9 at least 90% holdings compliant

•3 at least 80% holdings compliant

•2 at least 70% holdings compliant

•2 at least 60% holdings compliant

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Health andConsumers

Group housing of sows

Data regularly collected since summer 2011

Issue extensively discussed in many forums with Member

States and stakeholders 2011-2012

Member States' transposition checked again 2012

Request national action plans for group housing 2012

EU pilot sent to 23 Member States in September 2012

Infringement procedures were launched against 9

Member States (LFN on 21/2/2013) + 7 cases still open

(pre-infringement)10

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Health andConsumers

Tail dockingAnnex I (8)

Certain procedures are permitted. However, neither tail-docking nor reduction of corner teeth must be carried out routinely.

Before carrying out these procedures, other measures shall be taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices, taking into account environment and stocking densities.

Inadequate environmental conditions or management systems must be changed.

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Health andConsumers

Manipulable material

Annex I (4)

Pigs must have access to a sufficient quantity of material to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such, which does not compromise the health of the animals.

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Tail docking

Which provisions are not respected?

Good situation in very few Member States but

done routinely in many others without efforts

for alternatives

EU legislation may need further

explanation through guidelines

"Inadequate environmental conditions"

"Other measures shall be taken"

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Health andConsumers

Tail dockingFirst extended working group on 8 March 2013

Presentations given by Member States, industry, research and NGO's

The Commission will develop guidelines for the requirements of Directive 2008/120

The information collected and experiences gathered will be used in this work.

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Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Flooring

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Article 3Sets specific requirements for space allowance according to pig size/weight

Flooring surface must meet certain requirements (solid; smooth but not slippery)

For concrete slatted floors maximum openings and minimum slat width are defined.

Annex I Pigs are to have access to a lying area physically and thermally comfortable and all animals are to be able to lie at the same time

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Flooring

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Many questions from the Member States in 2011-2012 related to the interpretation of these requirements

The Commission distributed its position at the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health

Presentations were given in a few instances allowing for questions from the Member States.

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Conclusion

Priority to group housing of sows

Intense work on tail docking + manipulable

materials

Both topics also addressed in EUWelNet project

Interpretations for technical issues e.g. flooring

EU guidelines on pig directive for 2013-2014

Series of studies on alternatives to castration17

Health andConsumers

Health andConsumers

Thank you for your attention

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