Brussels, 29/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - From February, the European Commission may initiate infringement proceedings (letter of formal notice, first stage) against several countries that have still not transposed into their national body of law provisions of the directive aimed at ensuring better protection for gestating sows. The European directive banning individual stalls for sows took effect on 1 January 2013. Seven EU member states, including the main pig meat producer countries such as Germany, Spain, Denmark and France, have still not come into line with the new rules on animal welfare for sows.
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection Tonio Borg called on EU agriculture ministers, meeting in Brussels on 28 January, to take strong measures so that the European legislation on the welfare of sows is rapidly applied. He also warned that the European Commission would oppose any unilateral action on the part of member states seeking to block imports of pig meat produced in conditions that do not comply with the directive on welfare. It is, in fact, very difficult to trace pig meat which is often processed before being marketed.
Directive 2001/88, which amends Directive 91/630 and Directive 2008/120, stipulates that, from 1 January 2013 sows and gilts (immature females) should be kept in groups during part of their pregnancy in all pig holdings keeping ten sows or more. Sows and gilts must also have permanent access to materials for rooting, and new minimum requirements are set for flooring surfaces.
Pig farmers had 12 years in which to comply with the norms set. In total, three quarters of all sows in Europe are raised in conditions that are in line with European requirements.
The ten countries that have already completely eliminated individual stalls for sows are: the United Kingdom, Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Slovakia. Countries lagging behind can be put into four groups: 1) over 98% of farms are in line with the rules: Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands; 2) 90-98% are in line: Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Spain and Portugal; 3) 70-90% are in line: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece and Ireland; and 4) under 70% are in line: Portugal (58%) and Cyprus (63%). The Commission is expected to launch legal proceedings against many countries, though not those which are very close to being fully in line with the directive.
Early 2012, the European Commission launched infringement proceedings against 14 member states that did not comply with the rules on the welfare of laying hens. On this dossier, however, it may soon toughen its tone by taking the last member states still not in compliance to the Court of Justice of the EU. (LC/transl.jl)