19/01/2022

Feedback to the public consultation on animal welfare

The European Commission launched a public consultation on the revision of the EU legislation on animal welfare. IFOAM Organics Europe provided feedback,  with input based on exchanges in its Farmers Group.

In our feedback, we recalled that the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848 states: “the observance of high standards for health, the environment and animal welfare in the production of organic products is intrinsic to the high quality of those products”, highlighting the fact that organic farming pays close attention to animal well-being and should be regarded as an animal welfare best practice for other types of agriculture.

Therefore, all animals should be respected and given the opportunity to display their natural behaviors. Farmers should select species and breeds that can thrive in their local conditions and for which mutilations are kept at a minimum.

We affirmed our support to creating an animal welfare labelling system putting forward adequate and species-specific animal welfare practices, in which the organic standard is clearly identifiable. For instance, IFOAM Organics Europe believes that a model like the egg label, which was implemented by the European Union in 1999 under the method of production (MOP) labelling option, uses an easy-to-understand and to implement ranking system and did not put too much extra costs or burdens on producers, and is thus a relevant model for other agricultural products.

We also stressed our support to minimising transport duration to reduce the stress animals face, as stated in the EU Organic Regulation. To do so, it is important to have all support needed to have enough local and regional slaughterhouses for organic, as, currently, organic livestock farmers may not have slaughterhouses for organic in close proximity. Farmers cannot be penalised by factors that are outside of their control, such as their proximity to a slaughterhouse. The personnel involved in keeping and transporting animals should be properly trained to ensure specific animals’ needs.

Moreover, organic farmers should be rewarded for the public goods that they deliver, through higher animal welfare standards, but also through the protection of the environment and of natural resources and through the reduction of inputs.

IFOAM Organics Europe’s members can read our full feedback on our member extranet.

Feel free to reach out to [email protected], Policy Assistant on Agricultural Policies and the CAP, if you want to have more information. Please take notes that we prioritize our members’ requests.

For more information on the CAP and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please contact [email protected]. IFOAM Organics Europe members can find more information on the member extranet and background materials in the arguments database on the member extranet (main messages, arguments/FAQs, visuals & videos).

IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Farmers (IGOF) is one of IFOAM Organics Europe’s four interest groups. Our interest groups provide direct input from the different sectors in IFOAM Organics Europe’s organisation. They formulate policies and positions relevant to their sector.

IFOAM Organics Europe’s members can access a list of its current members and the terms of reference on the member extranet. 

Are you an IFOAM Organics Europe member who is:

For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected]

The work of IFOAM Organics Europe on this topic is co-financed by the LIFE programme of the European Union, under the under the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). This publication only reflects the views of the authors and its sole responsibility lies with IFOAM Organics Europe. CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.

 
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