Review of animal welfare policy priorities and future targets: 

Summary and Outlook 

May 2001


(Extract)

3.Recent examples of animal welfare initiatives taken by the Federal 
Government in the period under report 

Expert opinions and Guidelines

In addition to legislation, expert opinions and guidelines also have 
an important role to play in the enforcement and interpretation of the 
Animal Welfare Act. The expert opinion on the interpretation of 
section 11(b) of the Animal Welfare Act concerning the breeding of pet 
animals as well as the expert opinion on the minimum requirements for 
the keeping of ornamental fish were finalised in the period under 
report.


5.Future targets 

(Extract)

The Federal Government, in conjunction with the associations 
concerned, is taking an active part in this meeting's preparatory 
work. This work must aim at creating uniform requirements applying 
EU-wide to take more account of the animals' needs. The global 
importance of this area of animal welfare is highlighted by the fact 
that several organisations from North America have applied for an 
observer status at the Council of Europe for the above-mentioned 
Multilateral Consultation.

With regard to the increasing liberalisation of global trade it is of 
considerable importance to include proposals to safeguard animal 
welfare at an international level within the framework of the WTO 
negotiations on agriculture. The Federal Government will seize every 
opportunity to create an appropriate international framework for the 
existing animal welfare standards. Moreover, it is supporting the EU 
in its efforts to ensure that the WTO negotiations take adequate 
account of animal welfare.

In addition to its legislative activities the Federal Government will 
also try and raise the awareness of the importance of animal welfare 
among the population. In this context, more information about 
conditions for the keeping of animals and about housing facilities 
respecting animal welfare requirements is to be disseminated. The 
trade associations are to be encouraged to improve the qualifications 
of their members to enhance animal welfare.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Government also consulted the 
associations concerned on the implementation of the requirements set 
by the expert opinion on the breeding of pet animals. The 
consultations will be continued in 2001 to arrive at model agreements 
for breeding strategy and planning, including non-organised breeders. 
Once the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Züchtungskunde has presented its 
proposals, talks will also be held with agricultural breeders' 
organisations and businesses (see part IV).

A working group is to be set up to solve problems relating to the 
keeping of pet animals, particularly dogs. This group is to discuss 
proposals made by various associations (Deutscher Tierschutzbund, 
Bundestierärztekammer, Bundesverband Praktischer Tierärzte etc.) to 
establish, if necessary, rules under the Animal Welfare Act. The 
working group, chaired by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, 
Food and Agriculture, is to consist of representatives of associations 
and the Länder.

Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and 
Agriculture will convene an expert group that is to evaluate training 
objectives and methods for dogs. In this context, the use of 
electrostimulation devices is to be discussed, too.

The results of these two working groups could then be included into 
the Ordinance on Animal Welfare regarding Dogs.

The Federal Government is convinced that a substantial improvement of 
animal welfare cannot be achieved with the aid of laws and regulations 
alone. What is more, it is necessary to raise the general awareness of 
the importance of animal welfare. If it is a matter of course for 
people to respect animals, a lot more has been achieved for animal 
welfare than with perfect provisions listed in a Law Gazette. This 
requires comprehensive education involving all actors. However, this 
appeal does not only address animal keepers, but also consumers. Only 
if consumers are prepared to bear their responsibility for animal 
welfare, and that also means to pay higher prices for foodstuffs, will 
animal keepers keeping their animals more in line with animal welfare 
requirements stand a chance on the markets. The recent BSE crisis has 
shown that consumers are prepared to spend more money on these 
products. The Federal Government is expressly supporting efforts 
geared to this type of production also within the framework of the 
reorientation of agriculture.