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Brussels, 15 july 1996
Opinion on Animal Welfare
EURO COOP believes that the stated objective of the legislation must be that animals shall be treated well, protected from unnecessary suffering and illness and housed and treated in such a way that their health is furthered and natural behaviour is possible.
EURO COOP considers that the proposed measures be combined with active and systematic preventive health work in order to reduce the need for medication.
It is EURO COOP's view that farming and animal breeding can be carried out rationally with good animal care and restrictive use of veterinary medicinal products. The use of antibiotics involves a risk of residues in meat and the development of strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which directly affect the possibilities of curing human diseases with antibiotics. The use of medicine must be restricted to a minimum. This also calls for preventive measures, in the form of good environmental surroundings and care for animals, so that diseases do not occur. Strictly limited use of antibiotics, only on prescription, is the basis for better animal welfare. Restricted use of such medicines enables us to get to the root of the problems and find solutions - instead of suppressing the symptoms with medicine. This does not necessarily signify higher costs, as the animals, in this way, become more healthy. EURO COOP therefore calls for a reduction in the use of antibiotics, and other veterinary medicinal products in animal production.
EURO COOP believes that the use of antibiotics solely for growth-promoting purposes should be completely forbidden. The current ban on growth promoters, such as hormones, must be controlled much more strictly and non-compliance with the provisions must be sanctioned by deterrent penalties.
EURO COOP calls for regulations to be introduced specifying that the animals are to be fed with feedingstuffs of a proper nutritional value. The natural nutritional requirements of animals should not be exceeded due to other demands.
EURO COOP requests that the legislation governing the physical requirements for rearing livestock be reviewed in order to raise animal welfare standards in law and to promote good practice. Animal housing should be constructed in a manner that promotes the health of the animals and reduce the need for medication.
EURO COOP calls for further legislation to ensure the well-being of animals during transport and slaughter. The 1995 regulations on animal transport are a first step in the right direction but they are not sufficient. They should be improved to meet reasonable ethical demands without creating trade barriers.
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