The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined in a report on pig slaughterhouses that almost all instances of animal suffering are caused by staff shortcomings. The report identifies a total of 30 most common situations in the slaughter process, from the arrival and unloading of pigs to stunning and killing.
Similar to a previous report on poultry, most threats to animal welfare – 29 of the 30 described situations – were caused by staff shortcomings, such as lack of training or fatigue. The described cases of animal suffering include heat stress, thirst, prolonged hunger, and breathing difficulties.
The report particularly points to a lack of skills or inadequate training of the staff. Welfare problems causing animal suffering are not attributed to the actual workplaces, equipment, or management. Poorly constructed facilities were found to be a contributing factor in the emergence of risks, but not the cause. “Even in a well-designed and equipped slaughterhouse, staff training is a crucial preventive measure to avoid animal suffering,” the report states.
The report on animal welfare is part of the new EU sustainability policy, the Green Deal. The food policy, the Farm to Fork strategy, plays a key role in it. As part of this revision process, the European Commission is currently reviewing all existing provisions on animal welfare. At a meeting earlier this week, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides stated that a “proper reform of animal welfare legislation” is necessary. This is planned for 2023.
Animal welfare has so far mainly been a topic for the Agriculture Committee. But another EU study, also published this week, shows that the agricultural AGRI branch within the EU will have much less influence on this in the future. This study describes which EU departments will be responsible for parts of the Green Deal, and under which directorates-general (DGs) this will fall.
In only nine of the 27 planned changes in administrative advice and political decision-making will DG AGRI still play a leading role. In most other cases, this will be the departments for Environment, Food Safety, Sustainability, Labor Conditions, or Regional Development. Within the Green Deal, Agriculture will be just one of many components.
A similar 'power struggle' is currently taking place between the various specialized committees of the European Parliament. There, too, it has been a question over the past year of who will have authority over what. Last week, a letter to the press was leaked from Pascal Canfin, the French chairman of the Environment Committee ENVI. In that letter, the environment committee terminated the informal cooperation that had developed between the two committees over the past year during the Farm to Fork preparation.
The discussions between the two committees about the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) apparently became significantly more difficult. The decision to withdraw the ENVI shadow rapporteurs from the discussions was made two weeks ago. The political group leaders of that committee consider the divide with their AGRI colleagues unbridgeable. Members of the AGRI agriculture committee reportedly responded with disappointment but have not yet given an official response.
It may be discussed on Monday during the monthly meeting of the Agriculture Committee. A conversation with Environment Commissioner Sinkevicius is scheduled. The exchange with the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries will focus on biodiversity on agricultural land.