January 17, 2001

The European Commission has adopted a proposal to improve the welfare conditions for pigs through legislation. The commission also adopted a report on intensive pig farming that prohibits the confinement of pigs during most of their pregnancy to individual stalls where freedom of movement might be restricted. It also sets out rules to improve the living environment of pigs and piglets in general, setting requirements for living spaces, floor surfaces, and proper feeding systems. New requirements for training of pig handlers are also introduced.

In addition the Commission is proposing tougher regulations of noise and light levels, access to food and materials for rooting, timing of weaning of piglets, flooring surfaces, and the prohibition the "worst types" of routine mutilations. Officials believe the plans should remedy the main problems found in intensive pig farming, revealed by a commission report based on an analysis from its Scientific Committee for Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW).

David Byrne, commissioner for health and consumer protection, said, "The intensification of pig farming over the past 10 years has led to practices which cause unnecessary suffering and are also increasingly proving to be counterproductive. I take the advice of our scientists on this very seriously and will do the utmost to ensure that the legislation is brought in line. Once these new measures are in place, I believe the pig meat industry will have a chance to significantly improve its public image. Animal welfare issues are an integral part of the future EU farming policy. We want to be moving towards a farming system that combines efficient rearing with rearing methods that are acceptable to the vast majority of the public."

Apart from the fact that certain key rules are already in place in some countries, the new rules will be introduced gradually over more than 10 years to allow the industry time to adjust buildings to the higher pig welfare standards. The rules are proposed to come into force in 2012, while some key provisions will apply to new holdings as of Jan. 1, 2002. Farmers also are eligible for financial assistance for investments in buildings and technical installations with the objective to improve animal welfare standards under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

For the full text of the report on intensive pig farming and the 1997 scientific opinion on it, see http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/oldcomm4/out17_en.html.