12. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 62/37 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) concerning minimum standards for 
the protection of calves kept in intensive farming systems (l) 
(90/C 62/13) 
On 5 July 1989, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under 
Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the abovementioned 
proposal. 
The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's 
work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 30 November 1989. The Rapporteur was Mr Storie-
Pugh. 
At its 272nd Plenary Session (meeting of 20 December 1989) the Economic and Social Committee 
adopted the following Opinion by 62 votes to 22 against and 15 abstentions: 
1. Introduction 
The Committee recognizes the Commission's commitment 
to ensure that common minimum standards for the 
protection of calves in intensive farming systems are 
applied throughout Member States in order to avoid 
distortion of trade and facilitate the completion of the 
internal market as well as ensuring the welfare of calves. 
The Committee is also aware that the existing single-pen 
system for rearing veal calves can be criticized for many 
reasons. 
The Commission's proposals are welcomed and supported. 
As a contracting party to the European Convention on the 
Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes, it is 
necessary for the Commission's proposals to ensure that 
the Convention's principles and provisions are fully 
implemented. The Committee is satisfied that scientific 
data and practical farm experience support the Com­
mission's proposals. Whilst seeing the positive aspects of 
the Commission's proposals, the Committee also considers 
that systematic and hasty implementation of all the 
provisions may raise practical problems, especially 
economic consequences for farmers. However it also 
recognizes that problems will be caused for many farmers 
using unacceptable production systems and that these 
problems should be alleviated as far as possible. The 
Committee also recognizes that stockmanship is an 
important factor in ensuring both the health and welfare of 
calves in all husbandry systems. A technological aid to 
maintaining high standards of stockmanship would be the 
introduction of computerized husbandry systems which are 
becoming available for group-housing of calves. 
2. General comments 
2.1. The Committee agrees with the timetable that the 
Commission proposes and, in particular, the review proposed in Article 6. This will allow the rational 
incorporation, without delay of new research findings to 
improve the conditions under which housed calves are kept 
without undue disruption of production. 
2.2. It is recognized that recent studies have indicated 
that the morbidity and mortality rates in some group-
housing systems are higher than those in single-pen 
systems. However it was concluded that the primary reason 
was an inadequate level of the management leading to a 
failure to detect illness at an early stage rather than an 
inherent defect in the system. 
2.3. The change from individual to group-housing of 
calves will require a high level of stockmanship. It is felt 
that the Commission should actively encourage Member 
States to set up training and educational schemes whereby 
farmers can acquire the new knowledge and skills necessary 
for calves in group-housing systems to be properly 
managed. 
3. Specific comments 
3.1. The provision of Article 3 (1) b and the Annex be 
amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 10 in order to take account of scientific develop­
ments until 1 January 1994 at least, calves may be kept 
either in group housing or individual boxes. 
3.2. A new Article to be inserted between the present 
Article 7 and Article 8 to make the following point: 
'The draft Regulation is not clear in regard to 
enforcement. It is important that Member States should 
be required to provide for adequate sanctions for the 
contravention of the Regulation.' 
3.3. Article 11. 
(!) OJ No 143, 9. 6. 1989, p. 6 The exact meaning should be clarified so as to avoid 
ambiguity. 
No C 62/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 3. 90 
4. Annex 
4.1. Point 6. Reword as follows: 
'Calves shall not be kept permanently in darkness. 
Either artificial or natural lighting shall be provided for 
at least eight hours daily. Artificial lighting shall be 
available and of sufficient intensity to inspect the calves 
at any time.' 
4.2. Point 9 
There was concern about the problem of a small percentage 
of calves in group-housing systems which persisted with 
aberrant behaviour. Therefore the second sentence should 
be re-worded as follows: 
'Any calf which appears to be ill or injured or behaving 
abnormally to the detriment of other calves shall be 
treated appropriately without delay.' 
4.3. Point 9 
Paragraph 2. The first words 'veterinary advice' amended 
as follows: 
'Advice from a veterinarian shall be ' 
4.4. Point 13 
For clarification the second sentence should be re-worded 
as follows: 
'No floor including slatted, perforated or gridded floors 
shall cause injury or strain to calves standing or lying on 
it.' 
4.5. Point 14 
The provision of colostrum for new-born calves within the 
first six hours of birth is considered to be so important for 
Done at Brussels, 20 December 1989. their future health and welfare that some reference to this 
matter should be made. It was also recognized that there 
were practical difficulties in enforcing this necessary 
practice, although a field test is available which can 
monitor the immune status of the calf prior to its entry into 
the rearing unit. 
It was recommended that this paragraph should begin with 
the words: 
'All calves should have received colostrum and shall be 
provided ' 
A new penultimate sentence should be intoduced: 
'Iron shall be administered by injection when a calf is 
found to have an iron deficiency within ten days of 
birth.' 
4.6. Point 16 
Liquid milk replacer will not provide sufficient water for 
the calf's needs under all circumstances particularly if 
roughage is being added to the diet. The provision of 
roughage is important for the welfare of the calf and 
practical experience has shown that there are types of 
digestible fibre available which do not affect the colour of 
the meat. It is felt that 100 gm is an inadequate amount for 
the older calf as it will not provide for its behavioural needs 
and could lead to abnormal behaviour. This should be re­
worded as follows: 
'Each calf shall have access to adequate fresh potable 
water at all times and after the age of two weeks shall 
have daily access to at least 100 gm of dry food 
containing digestible fibre. This shall be increased to at 
least 200 gm after the age of six weeks.' 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Alberto MASPRONE 
12. 3. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 62/39 
APPENDIX 1 
The following Members or their representatives voted in favour of the Opinion: 
Mr/Mrs/Miss 
ALEXOPOULOS, ASPINALL, BERGER, BERTON, BODDY, BOISSEREE, BORDES-PAGES, BOS, 
BREDIMA-SAVOPOULOU, BRIGANTI, BROICHER, CAMPBELL, CHRISTIE, CORELL AYORA, 
CORTOIS, COYLE, van DAM, DODD, DRILLEAUD, van EEKERT, ETTY, EULEN, FLUM, FREEMAN, 
GARDNER, GERMOZZI, GREEN, HANCOCK, HORSKEN, HOVGAARD JAKOBSEN, JASCHICK, 
KAZAZIS, KENNA, KIRCHFELD, KROGER, LAPPAS, LOW, MEYER HORN, MORELAND, MUHR, 
MUNIZ GUARDADO, MURPHY, NETO DA SILVA, NIERHAUS, NOORDWAL, PARDON, PETERSEN, 
PETROPOULOS, PROUMENS, QUEVEDO ROJO, RIERA MARSA, ROBINSON, ROLAO GONgALVES, 
ROSEINGRAVE, SALMON, SPEIRS, STORIE-PUGH, TAMLIN, TERMES CARRERO, TIEMANN, 
TUKKER, YVERNEAU. 
The following Members or their representatives voted against the Opinion: 
Mr/Mrs/Miss: 
BENTO GONCALVES, BERRETA, BERNS, Vasco CAL, CAVAZZUTI, DE TAVERNIER, DONCK, 
DRAGO, ELSTNER, FRESI, LIVERANI, LUCHETTI, MACHADO VON TSCHUSI, MAINETTI, 
MANTOVANI, MARGALEF MASIA, MAYAYO BELLO, MORSELLI, SANTILLAN CABEZA, 
SCHNIEDERS, WICK, WILLIAMS. 
The following Members or their representatives abstained: 
Mr/Mrs/Miss 
ARENA, ARETS, BAGLIANO, CEBALLO HERRERO, CEYRAC, COLLAS, MORALES, MULLER, 
PELLETIER Robert, PERRIN-PELLETIER, RAMAEKERS, RIBIERE, SCHOEPGES, WAGNER, WAL-
DACK.