EU’S NEW STRATEGY ON ANIMAL WELFARE

The European Commission has been told by EU ministers to develop a new EU strategy for the protection and welfare of animals based on the lessons learned from the strategy for 2012-2015. This includes communication and education activities for the public of the essential role of good animal welfare in promoting animal health and telling the livestock sector to treat welfare as an integral part of sustainable animal production. ministers told the Commission that it should consider updating current legislation, in particular in areas such as  animal transport over long distances, the welfare of cattle over 6 months, and animal slaughter in order to adapt it to the most recent scientific knowledge and technical developments.