COMPASSION TO LAUNCH MAJOR ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE
In much of Europe, enforcement of EU animal welfare laws is poor. For many years Compassion has worked hard to get laws designed to protect animals properly enforced. For example, in 2007, our investigations persuaded the European Commission to take Greece to the European Court, which consequently ruled that Greece had failed to properly enforce EU legislation on transport and slaughter.
Swedish free-range pigs
Compassion will make enforcement a major plank of our work, with the aim of winning much greater compliance with welfare laws throughout Europe. We are determined to ensure that animals feel the full benefit of the laws designed to protect them.
AN END TO ILLEGAL PIG CRUELTY
Our investigation in six EU countries (including the UK) found that many farmers are ignoring the Pigs Directive which prohibits routine tail docking and requires pigs to be given straw or some similar material so that they can engage in their natural behaviours of rooting, foraging and exploring. We have been making progress in getting these laws enforced and are now committed to stepping up this work. Proper implementation of these laws could spell the beginning of the end of factory farming for pigs.
TRANSPORT FIRMS BREAK THE LAW TO TURN A PROFIT
The EU Transport Regulation is routinely flouted. Animals are packed into overcrowded trucks and transported huge distances across Europe, often without being given rest, water and food as and when required by the Regulation. For example, a new report by the European Commission reveals that Polish officials are accepting unrealistically short journey time estimates made by firms exporting young calves to Italy, Spain and Belgium. This means the animals don’t get the 24-hour mid-journey rest to which they are entitled by law.
ABATTOIRS FLOUTING SLAUGHTER REGULATIONS
Within the EU, around 325 million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle are slaughtered for food each year. That amounts to around 900,000 each and every day. In addition, the EU slaughters around 6 billion chickens a year – that is over 16 million each day. There are rules and regulations that govern how animals are slaughtered: that slaughter is carried out as humanely as possible, in ways that minimise pain, stress and fear. Yet in reality, slaughter is often a terrifying, painful process due to lack of law enforcement.
A recent investigation by One Voice in France revealed that some animals were kicked and hit by slaughterhouse workers; some had to be stunned two or three times by incompetent slaughtermen; some animals were conscious whilst their throats were cut; some cowered in terror and tried to escape; and some unfit animals were literally dragged to their deaths.
THE 2012 BARREN BATTERY CAGE BAN - A FIRST STEP TOWARDS A WORLD WITHOUT FACTORY FARMING?
The EU ban on conventional battery cages comes into force on 1 January 2012. Compassion is working now to ensure this law comes into force.
Our investigators will be visiting farms in a number of countries right from the start of 2012 gathering evidence of any continuing use of what by then will be illegal battery cages. Our aim is 100% compliance with the ban.
Regrettably, it will still be possible to use so-called enriched cages after 1 January 2012. We are working hard to persuade farmers and food businesses to steer clear of enriched cages and instead to go over to barn or free-range systems.
The illustration above represents a typical barren battery cage. Each compartment holds around 4 animals, depending on type of cage. Sheds containing thousands of animals in these conditions are not uncommon.