Motion for a reso­lution on the creation of an animal welfare 'one-stop shop'

Pursuant to Rule 133 of the Rules of Procedure
on the creation of an animal welfare ‘one-stop shop’
Jacqueline Foster, Janusz Wojciechowski, Anja Hazekamp, Marlene Mizzi, Marit Paulsen

The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
– having regard to the Commission communication of 19 January 2012 on the European Union Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012–2015 (COM(2012)0006),
– having regard to its legislative resolution of 6 May 2009 on the proposal for a Council regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing(1),
– having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on the microbial challenge - rising threats from antimicrobial resistance (2012/2041(INI)),
– having regard to the EFSA scientific opinion of 2 December 2010 on animal welfare during transport, EFSA Journal 2011; 9(1)1966,
– having regard to the EFSA scientific opinion of 13 December 2011 on guidance on risk assessment for animal welfare, EFSA Journal 2012; 10(1): 2513,
– having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes, as approved by the EU by Decision 78/923/EC,
– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of 26 May 2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC,
– having regard to Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes,
– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products,
– having regard to Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos,
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein,
– having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas respect for animal welfare is a fundamental provision of the EU and enjoys widespread support from its citizens; whereas Article 13 TFEU holds that animals are sentient and that, as such, ‘full regard must be paid to their welfare requirements’;

B. whereas the Commission communication (COM(2012)0006) on the impact assessment of the European Union Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012-2015 concluded that there was a need to improve enforcement of EU legislation, to provide for open and fair competition for EU business and operators, to improve knowledge and awareness of EU business operators as regards animal welfare, and to improve the coherence of animal welfare across animal species;

C. whereas current institutional arrangements provide for a fragmented division of responsibilities for animal welfare across several Commission Directorates-General and Member States, resulting in varied levels of protection being afforded to animals depending upon their circumstance: whether the animal is a companion animal, a farmed animal, an animal used in a laboratory, or a zoo animal;

D. whereas the protection afforded to animals varies considerably from one Member State to another;

E. whereas a survey of Member States in February 2013, carried out as part of the consultation to develop the new EC Zoos Directive Guidance and Good Practice Document, revealed that 87 % of the responding competent authorities requested further information about ‘animal welfare principles’, indicating minimal knowledge and limited access to training;

F. whereas there is evidence of poor enforcement of animal protection law in Member States; whereas this includes reports of substandard conditions for animals in zoos, dolphinaria, circuses, pet shops and fairs, farms and laboratories, which could indicate considerable animal suffering;

1. Requests that the Commission recognise the importance of this issue to EU citizens and its centrality as the subject of a Treaty article, and establish a ‘one-stop shop’ for streamlining animal welfare concerns under the existing Directorates-General structure;

2. Urges the Commission, through the one-stop shop, to represent animal welfare for all animal species under the management or care of human beings at the highest levels within the EU, acting as a single and central point of information and expertise;

3. Requests that the Commission strengthen, through the one-stop shop, its cooperation with Member States to benefit animal welfare, thus ensuring animals a ‘life worth living’, by addressing the issues listed above, and that it work towards ensuring a high level and quality of Member State adherence to this principle;

4. Requests that the Commission champion animal welfare on the wider international stage through the one-stop shop;

5. Requests that the Commission, through the one-stop shop, evaluate animal welfare standards in Member States and ensure that breaches of requirements are rapidly and effectively addressed;

6. Reminds the Commission and the Member States of their obligations to provide adequate levels of animal protection;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the governments and parliaments of trading partner nations.