Kick-off meeting of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare at the EU Commission
FOUR PAWS is looking forward to the exchange of best practices and the work to come, but reminds the EU Commission that it should take action, too
The international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS welcomes the first meeting of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare, which gathered 75 representatives from NGOs, farmers’ organisations, scientists, EU Member States and other European countries (Switzerland, Iceland), international organisations such as FAO, OIE, and the World Bank, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
During this first meeting, the participants were offered the opportunity to discuss relevant areas of work of common interest, and to propose priorities for the work of the Platform. The aim was to share information and experience on the better implementation of EU animal welfare legislation, the promotion of EU animal welfare standards globally, and the promotion on the market of animal welfare-friendly products. The participants emphasised the need for new legislation, especially for species that are not yet covered by existing EU law, despite the Commission being reluctant to work on legislation.
The EU Commission will prioritise, map out and analyse the list of topics in order to reach concrete and measurable results. The next meeting is scheduled for November 10th, 2017.
To review the web stream of the meeting:https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/inaugural-meeting-of-the-platform-on-animal-welfare
EU Platform on Animal Welfare:https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/eu-platform-animal-welfare_en
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org