Brussels, 12.10.2021. The EU Parliament's Environment Committee today adopted the report "on the implementation of animal welfare on farms" by a majority. As shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA group, MEP Manuela Ripa (ÖDP) is delighted with her hard-won success: "With our amendments, my colleagues from the Animal Welfare Intergroup Anja Hazekamp (GUE/NGL), Jytte Guteland (S&D) and I were able to achieve clear demands for the welfare of farm animals after difficult negotiations. The demands also include better financial support for farmers to improve animal welfare and better consumer information."

Specifically, Manuela Ripa was able to argue, for example, that EU legislation on animal welfare must be reviewed on a species-specific basis and must be based on the five animal welfare criteria - feeding, husbandry, health, behavior and mental state.

The long overdue ban on cruel foie gras production was also pushed through. Ripa is particularly pleased about the introduction of an EU-wide mandatory animal welfare label. "So far, the member states only want voluntary labeling, which is clearly not enough. The Environment Committee is sending a clear signal here," says Ripa.

But it is not enough to have high EU animal welfare standards in Europe alone. These must not be undermined by imports. It was therefore extremely important to make a clear demand on EU trade policy: Trade agreements should only grant trade preferences on the condition that they comply with all EU animal welfare laws. Binding and enforceable sanctions are required for the first time. All EU subsidies that run counter to animal welfare should also be phased out by next year.

Another important point is the stricter control of antibiotics and other chemicals banned in the EU in imports of animal products from non-EU countries: "This is an important step towards greater consumer protection," explains Ripa.

Manuela Ripa sums up her work over the last few months: "It is actually unbelievable that so many obvious things, such as more animal welfare in our stables, were so difficult to push through in Parliament." The extent of the resistance from Parliament can be seen in the amendments that did not make it into the report. For example, Ripa also called for an end to the cruel transportation of long-lived animals and a ban on exports to third countries.

To this end, the promotion of regional and mobile abattoirs and direct farm slaughter has been included in the report. Meat should also be transported instead of live animals. "Animals should be spared the terrible transportation, stress and agony they are subjected to in slaughterhouses."

It is now up to the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee, which has lead responsibility, to include the important demands of the Environment Committee for greater animal welfare in livestock.