By Martin Banks - 30th January 2012
The charity World Horse Welfare has warned that the
commission's recently-announced animal welfare strategy
gives "horses short shrift".
It says the commission's long-awaited strategy released
earlier this month does not address the key issues impacting
the welfare of horses.
The strategy, launched on 19 January by European health and
consumer policy commissioner John Dalli, follows an
evaluation of 20 years of animal welfare policy and sets out
the future actions proposed to improve the treatment and
welfare of animals in the EU up until 2015.
However, the document was criticised by animal welfare and
industry groups for its "lack of ambition" and failure to
address key issues, including the shortcomings of the
current transportation rules.
World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said, "This
is the second time in two months that the commission has
chosen to ignore the calls of its citizens and MEPs to
rectify the terrible conditions and needlessly long journeys
of horses transported to slaughter across Europe."
He added, "In November, the commission had the opportunity
to improve animal welfare by proposing changes to existing
legislation.
"However, despite acknowledging that 'severe animal welfare
problems persist' and that the long journey times endured by
horses do not conform to the recommendations of their own
scientific advisors, they proposed no changes."
The long-distance transportation of horses across Europe to
slaughter has become a high-profile issue and the focus of
concern among EU citizens and MEPs.
Owers said that public support for changes to the existing
transportation legislation affecting horses is evidenced by
a written declaration to stop the "needless" practice signed
by a majority of MEPs in 2010.
He also pointed to another petition in circulation which
calls for a maximum eight-hour journey limit for all animals
intended for slaughter and has been signed by more than one
million people.
The commission has indicated that improved enforcement of
its transport regulation and guidance should be the priority
to improve welfare during transport.
Owers said, "We agree entirely that robust enforcement of
the regulation is a key part of the solution, but the
reality is that the current regulation is largely
unenforceable, not least because current journeys are
limitless and hence can go through multiple member states
which poses great logistical challenges - something the
commission itself admits.
"It is for this reason, and clear scientific evidence that
horses suffer during long-distance journeys, that we believe
an amendment to the law to include a short, maximum journey
limit of nine- to-12 hours for all non-registered equines is
an essential part of the solution to the current horrific
suffering that tens of thousands of horses endure every
year."
He added, "We are also perplexed that parliament and the
commission have agreed to remove the compulsory labelling of
horsemeat from the forthcoming labelling regulations despite
all other meats being covered.
"This had been promised at the last strategy and would have
informed consumers where the horses from which the meat was
obtained were reared and slaughtered, so providing them with
an informed choice.
"We are now calling on the commission to introduce proposals
for a short, finite journey limit for horses and other
equidae destined to slaughter or further fattening, and for
horse meat to be labelled in line with other meats so that
consumers can make an informed choice.
"The status quo is nothing less than abuse, is
scientifically discredited, and unacceptable to the public
and MEPs."
The current regulation is largely unenforceable
World Horse Welfare
from the website The Parliament.