6.9.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 342/51 Wednesday 16 February 2022
7.
Is aware of the fact that EFSA has produced several opinions on the use of animal-based measures for species not covered by specific legislation (dairy cows and beef cattle) in response to requests from the Commission; regrets the fact that these animal-based measures proposed by EFSA have not been implemented so far; calls on the Commission, therefore, to ensure that these animal-based measures are updated with the latest scientific knowledge and integrated into the existing specific legislation;
8.
Acknowledges that according to scientific bodies, animal-based measures — although desirable — are not always enforceable and objectively verifiable; calls on the Commission, therefore, in the context of its revision of the EU animal welfare legislation, to formulate highly specific and verifiable requirements in the light of the latest scientific opinions and the various production systems across the Member States;
9.
Calls on the Commission to ensure that the existing animal welfare legislation is complied with and to update the rules, where necessary, to better match them with society’s demands, in the light of scientific progress and research findings in this field, while broadening the scope and flexibility of those rules to adapt to the latest scientific and technological developments and the objectives of the Green Deal;
10.
Recalls that output-oriented quantifiable changes must be made after appropriate scientific evaluation and in consultation with the competent bodies and stakeholders in the Member States, with a view to meeting the challenges facing stock breeders, on the one hand, and the needs and expectations of citizens and the health and welfare of animals, on the other, taking due account of the best choices for consumers and their purchasing power; recalls that our European food system should provide access to affordable, high-quality food; considers that producers should be guaranteed a fair share of the price of food products complying with EU animal welfare legislation;
11.
Calls for shorter supply chains in nutrition, relying on locally or regionally produced food to provide consumers with better direct access to local food and support small farmers;
12.
Urges lawmakers to familiarise themselves with and be fully aware of the consequences of these developments; calls for changes to be assessed using a holistic approach taking in the social, environmental, animal welfare and economic components of sustainability, as well as ergonomics for farmers and health-related aspects, and taking particular account of the ‘One Health’ approach; recalls that animal welfare must be combined with a sustainable economic approach;
13.
Underlines the need to improve animal welfare and health in animal agriculture as part of the ‘One Health’ approach; points to the fact that in order to achieve this goal, improved animal husbandry practices are essential, as better animal welfare improves animal health, thereby reducing the need for medication and curbing the spread of zoonoses; calls on the Commission also to develop the ‘One Welfare’ approach as part of the revision of the legislation on animal welfare;
14.
Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their checks monitoring for antibiotics and other banned chemical residues found in imports from non-EU countries, as part of the Commission’s strategy to effectively address the unregulated use of antibiotics and pesticides used in animal, seafood and aquaculture production;
15.
Calls for measures to be introduced to guarantee the safety and integrity of farmers in the event of certain actions being taken towards animals;
16.
Stresses that any change must be considered in the light of the time, support and financing needed for livestock farmers to implement it, its economic and bureaucratic implications, and the inertia it may entail; stresses the need to take particular account of investment costs, given the risk that low profit margins result in lengthy loan repayments; notes that changes to improve on-farm animal welfare need an appropriate transition period; acknowledges that livestock farmers are engaged in an ongoing investment cycle owing to recent animal welfare initiatives and long pay-off periods;