Animal welfare: Council adopts conclusions
The Council today adopted a set of conclusions on animal welfare.
In its conclusions the Council invites the Commission to develop a new EU strategy for the protection and welfare of animals based on the lessons learned from the strategy for 2012-2015. The Council also encourages the Commission and the member states to initiate communication and education activities for the public of the essential role of good animal welfare in promoting animal health, food security and a sustainable agro-food sector.
The conclusions highlight the importance of animal welfare as an integral part of sustainable animal production. They recognise the need to further update the current legislation, in particular in areas such as animal transport over long distances, the welfare of cattle over 6 months, dogs and cats kept in the context of economic activity and animal slaughter in order to adapt it to the most recent scientific knowledge and technical developments.
