BVA supports animal welfare law
The British Veterinary Association has backed new plans by the European Parliament as it calls for a science-based European animal welfare framework law.
MEPs are promoting new rules on labelling including non-stun slaughter, better controls and tough sanctions, equivalent welfare standards for imported animals and products, and species-specific welfare legislation.
The European Commission have been urged by MEPs to come forward with a holistic EU strategy on animal welfare by adopting a report by Swedish MEP Marit Paulsen. The resolution, put together in response to the Commission’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015, calls for a clear-cut and transparent approach based on scientific evidence to protect the welfare of all animals kept by humans; farm and zoo animals as well as pets.
BVA President Carl Padgett welcomed the report and commented: “As a profession we are delighted that the report emphasises the importance of scientific evidence and that animal welfare requirements should be evaluated on the basis on the latest scientific knowledge.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
