New report on EU welfare legislation for pigs

The report describes the present situation regarding the implementation of Directive 2008/120/EC. The report also lists national government funded research on pig welfare issues related to the Directive, covering the past five years.

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The current legislation (EU Directive 2008/120/EC) for pig welfare of the European Commission – originally formulated in 1991 – will soon be up for review. The direction this review will take, is yet unknown.

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Except for two relative new members, all states have implemented Directive 2008/120/EC in their legislation. A limited number of countries formulated stricter or additional demands to the EU legislation. Floor area, floor design and group housing of sows are the main themes with additional demands.©

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According to the report, governments of more than half the EU member states fund research on pig welfare issues. The main themes are floor design, group housing, environmental enrichment, castration and farrowing pens.

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The authors cautiously conclude that group housing of sows is not challenged but implemented, that surgical castration may be an issue in future legislation, and that members states are interested but hesitant to change the rules on farrowing systems and tail docking of piglets.

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