Abstract:
The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) has traditionally promoted a
large expansion in agricultural production. The scope of the agri
environment measures will be widened to make financial support available to
farmers who make extra animal welfare improvements. Respect for statutory
animal welfare standards will have to be met at farmers' own cost, but the
EU will provide support to farmers who enter into voluntary commitments to
meet standards which go beyond established animal husbandry practice,
providing better animal health and welfare conditions. Farm support too is
now geared specifically to consumer concerns and public priorities. A far cry
from the policy that once offered subsidies in response to the quantity
produced, CAP support is now dependent on meeting quality, environmental
and food safety guarantees, in line with the priorities of the European public – our farmers finally have back the freedom to farm to market demand. And
in removing the incentives to overproduce, our reforms have also made the
CAP less trade-distorting and better able to take account of the needs of
developing countries. Increasing numbers of European consumers are
concerned about the welfare of the animals that provide them with their
meat, eggs and dairy products. It is a principle underlying EU policy that
animals should not be subjected to avoidable pain or suffering. This is
reflected in clear rules on the conditions in which hens, pigs and calves may
be reared and in which farm animals can be transported and killed. These
rules are regularly updated in the light of new scientific data, and are some
of the most rigorous in the world. Research shows that farm animals are
healthier, and produce better food, if they are well treated and able to behave
naturally. Physical stress (e.g. from being kept, transported or slaughtered in
poor conditions) can adversely affect not only the health of the animal but
also the quality of meat.
