Our partner organization AWF at the EU Platform for Animal Welfare
Veterinarian and project manager Tea Dronjic represented our team at the EU Platform for Animal Welfare. Only a selected number of animal welfare organisations are invited.
Tea Dronjić, project manager at our partner organization, the Animal Welfare Foundation, participated in the 19th EU Platform on Animal Welfare. At the event, which was organized and chaired by the European Commission, representatives from all EU member states, the European Commission, scientists, industry representatives, and experts from selected animal welfare organizations discussed various animal welfare issues in Europe. We are proud that the AWF, as one of the selected nongovernmental organizations, represents civil society on this important panel.
The meeting focused on several topics that will significantly shape the future of animal welfare in the European Union. One key focus was the development of harmonized animal welfare indicators, which will be used in the future to scientifically assess and monitor animal welfare across the EU. These indicators will serve as an important foundation for better evaluating the effectiveness of European animal welfare legislation and monitoring its implementation in the member states.
Another key issue was competition from imports of animal products from non-EU countries. Animal welfare standards in those countries are often significantly lower than within the European Union. This not only leads to lower production costs and competitive disadvantages for European farmers and food producers, but also raises the question of how comparable animal welfare standards can be ensured for imported products. Our recently published investigation about cattle feedlots in Mercosur states focuses on that topic exactly.
In addition, the European Commission presented a new study on the use of digital technologies for monitoring and enforcing animal welfare regulations during animal transport. Digital solutions can help improve oversight of transport operations, increase transparency, and make fraud more difficult.
Effective Laws Are Needed
In our view, however, technological innovations can only reach their full potential if they are accompanied by effective legislation. Without a new, significantly stricter, and more precise EU regulation on the protection of animals during transport, even the best digital tools will have limited impact. Only clear, scientifically sound regulations with high animal welfare standards can ensure uniform implementation across all member states and sustainably reduce animal suffering during transport.
Because Switzerland, as an EFTA member state, implements many EU laws but, as a non-EU country, has no say in the legislative process, the AWF was founded 15 years ago. It is particularly gratifying that the AWF was invited to this important event and is thus also representing us, as a Swiss association, to some extent.
The meeting concluded with a discussion of current and planned EU initiatives aimed at improving the protection of dogs and cats.
The Animal Welfare Foundation and we will continue to contribute our technical expertise and many years of practical experience gained from international research and animal transport inspections to the work of the EU platform. Our goal remains to further strengthen European animal welfare legislation and to promote its consistent implementation for the well-being of animals.