Document ID: 31991L0630

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 19 November 1991
laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs
(91/630/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas all Member States have ratified the European Convention on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes; whereas the Community has also approved this Convention by Decision 78/923/EEC (4) and has deposited its instrument of approval;
Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution of 20 February 1987 on animal welfare policy (5), called on the Commission to make proposals on minimum standards for the intensive farming of pigs;
Whereas pigs, being live animals, are included in the list of products set out in Annex II of the Treaty;
Whereas the keeping of pigs is an integral part of agriculture; whereas it constitutes a source of revenue for part of the agricultural population;
Whereas differences which may distort conditions of competition interfere with the smooth running of the organization of the common market in pigs and pig products;
Whereas there is therefore a need to establish common minimum standards for the protection of pigs kept for rearing and fattening in order to ensure rational development of production;
Whereas it is necessary for official services, producers, consumers and others to be kept informed of developments in this field; whereas the Commission should therefore, on the basis of a report from the Scientific Veterinary Committee, pursue actively scientific research into the best pig-rearing system(s) from the point of view of pig welfare; whereas provision should accordingly be made for an interim period to enable the Commission to complete this task successfully,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
This Directive lays down the minimum standards for the protection of pigs confined for rearing and fattening.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:
1. 'pig`: an animal of the porcine species, of any age, kept for breeding or fattening;
2.
'boar`: a male pig after puberty, intended for breeding;
3.
'gilt`: a female pig after puberty and before farrowing;
4.
'sow`: a female pig after the first farrowing;
5.
'farrowing sow`: a female pig between the perinatal period and the weaning of the piglets;
6.
'dry pregnant sow`: a sow between weaning her piglets and the perinatal period;
7.
'piglet`: a pig from birth to weaning;
8.
'weaner`: a pig from weaning to the age of ten weeks;
9.
'rearing pig`: a pig from ten weeks to slaughter or service;
10.
'competent authority`: a competent authority within the meaning of Article 2 (6), of Directive 90/425/EEC (6).
Article 3
Member States shall ensure that:
1. - from 1 January 1994, all holdings newly-built or rebuilt and/or brought into use for the first time after that date shall comply with at least the following requirement:
the unobstructed floor area available to each weaner or rearing pig reared in a group must be at least:
- 0,15 m$ for a pig of an average weight of 10 kg or less,
- 0,20 m$ for a pig of an average weight of between 10 kg and 20 kg,
- 0,30 m$ for a pig of an average weight of between 20 kg and 30 kg,
- 0,40 m$ for a pig of an average weight of between 30 kg and 50 kg,
- 0,55 m$ for a pig of an average weight of between 50 kg and 85 kg,
- 0,65 m$ for a pig of an average weight of between 85 kg and 110 kg,
- 1,00 m$ for a pig of an average weight of more than 110 kg;
- from 1 January 1998, the minimum standards provided for above shall apply to all holdings;
2. the construction or conversion of installations in which sows and gilts are tethered shall be prohibited after 31 December 1995.
However, the use of installations built prior to 1 January 1996 which do not meet the requirements of point 1 may be authorized by the competent authority in the light of the results of the inspections provided for in Article 7 (1), for a period which shall under no circumstances extend beyond 31 December 2005.
The provisions of this Article shall not apply to holdings with fewer than six pigs or five sows with their piglets.
Article 4
1. Member States shall ensure that the conditions for rearing pigs comply with the general provisions laid down in the Annex.
However, until 30 June 1995, the Member States' competent authorities may authorize derogations from paragraphs 3, 5, 8 and 11 of Chapter I of the Annex.
2. Moreover, before this Directive enters into force, the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall issue a recommendation defining any additional minimum standards for the protection of pigs supplementing those in the Annex.
Article 5
The provisions of the Annex may be amended in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 10, in order to take account of scientific progress.
Article 6
By 1 October 1997, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report, drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the Scientific Veterinary Committee, on the intensive pig-rearing system(s) which comply with the welfare requirements of pigs from the pathological, zootechnical, physiological and behavioural points of view and on the socio-economic implications of the different systems. The report shall particularly take into account the welfare of sows reared in varying degrees of confinement and in groups and shall be accompanied by appropriate proposals which take account of the conclusions of the report.
The Council shall act by qualified majority on those proposals no later than three months after their submission.
Article 7
1. Member States shall ensure that inspections are carried out under the responsibility of the competent authority in order to check that the provisions of this Directive and its Annex are being complied with.
These inspections, which may be carried out on the occasion of checks made for other purposes, shall each year cover a statistically representative sample of the different rearing systems used in each Member State.
2. The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 10, draw up a code of rules to be applied in carrying out the inspections provided for in paragraph 1.
3. Every two years, by the last working day in April and for the first time by 30 April 1996, Member States shall inform the Commission of the results of the inspections carried out during the previous two years in accordance with this Article, including the number of inspections carried out in proportion to the number of holdings in their territory.
Article 8
Animals imported from non-member countries must, with respect to the requirements for their welfare, whilst being reared, receive treatment at least equivalent to that guaranteed by this Directive to animals of Community origin. This requirement must be stated in a certificate issued by the competent authority of the non-member country concerned.
Article 9
Veterinary experts from the Commission may, where necessary for the uniform application of this Directive, carry out on-the-spot checks in cooperation with the competent authorities. The persons carrying out these checks shall implement the special personal hygiene measures necessary to exclude any risk of transmission of disease.
The Member State in the territory of which a check is being carried out shall give all necessary assistance to the experts in carrying out their duties. The Commission shall inform the competent authority of the Member State concerned of the results of the checks.
The competent authority of the Member State concerned shall take any measures which may prove necessary to take account of the results of the check.
With regard to relations with non-member countries, the provisions of Chapter III of Directive 91/496/EEC (1) shall apply.
General rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 10.
Article 10
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the chairman shall refer the matter without delay to the Standing Veterinary Committee set up by Directive 68/361/EEC (2), hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee`, either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.
2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall not vote.
3. The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee.
4. If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall without delay submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.
If, within three months of the date of referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission except where the Council has decided against the measures by a simple majority.
Article 11
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions, including any sanctions, necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 1 January 1994. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
Where Member States adopt these provisions, the latter shall include a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on their official publication. The details of this reference shall be adopted by the Member States.
2. However, from the date set in paragraph 1, Member States may, in compliance with the general rules of the Treaty, maintain or apply within their territories stricter provisions for the protection of pigs than those laid down in this Directive. They shall inform the Commission of any such measures.
Article 12
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 November 1991.

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