Applied ethology in the EU: development of animal welfare standards and actions

• Why does the European Union bother about animal welfare? How did applied ethology come to play such an important role when animal welfare was to be measured and assessed? And was it disputed? Is it still disputed? A breakthrough in the EU for animal welfare and also for applied ethology, was the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, stating that the EU's member states are supposed to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals. However, there were differences of opinion on the priority to be given to animal welfare in the political sphere. As a result, the EU took the initiative to further develop animal welfare regulations in Europe. The development of farming practices, with increasing scientific evidence of poor welfare associated with many housing, management and genetic factors caused more and more concern among citizens but also in production chains and retailers. A new trend in animal welfare research developed, involving animal based measures of welfare, making use of positive emotions as measures of good animal welfare and employing a multidisciplinary approach to the subject of animal welfare. The WelfareQuality® project aimed to accommodate societal concerns and market demands, to develop reliable on-farm monitoring systems, product information systems, and practical species-specific strategies to improve animal welfare. Internationally, a consensus is being sought by traders as well as competent authorities on animal welfare regarding what consideration should be given to animal protection and welfare in global trade. This chapter presents the scenario for when animal welfare became an issue for politicians, how applied ethology became a recognised science in the EU and why applied ethology plays a major role in the assessment of animal welfare. It also presents EU activities in developing standards, methodologies and awareness raising activities where applied ethology plays a key role.

Subject headings

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Husdjursvetenskap -- Husdjursvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Animal and Dairy Sience -- Animal and Dairy Science. (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)