Tag: animal welfare

Pig numbers in the European Union could fall by as much as 10% and the price of pork could rise substantially when tougher animal welfare regulations come into force next year.

Across Europe industrial pig farming is encroaching on traditional farming methods and putting small farmers out of business, writes Tracy Worcester, director and producer of the documentary 'Pig Business'. Just as the USA is about to enforce higher animal welfare standards, the EU ought to follow suit, she argues.

UK veterinary authorities informed the European Commission on 22 September 2007 of the presence of the bluetongue viral infection in cattle near Ipswich, Suffolk, in another blow for farmers beset by the reinstatement of the EU's ban on British meat exports, following the re-emergence of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK.  

The Commission wants national food-safety inspectors to receive harmonised training to ensure proper implementation of EU law and a high level of food safety and consumer protection. The task could be entrusted to an EU agency.

Major chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, crop protection and cosmetics companies have agreed on an action plan aiming to reduce animal testing by finding alternative methods through R&D.

Agriculture Council adopt Directive amending current legislative rules on the protection of pigs but fail to agree on the meat and bone meal ban

European Parliament votes to ban sales of cosmetics tested on animals