Q: Jeppe Kofod (S&D, DK) - A European animal welfare strategy for 2016-2020 (2016-08-31)

With reference to the debate in the European Parliament on 23 November 2015 on a new animal welfare strategy for 2016-2020, I would like to ask:

How much progress has the Commission made since the abovementioned debate with a view to implementing the animal welfare strategy for 2012-2015?

When does the Commission intend to submit a detailed proposal for an animal welfare strategy for the period from 2016?

A: Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission (2016-10-13)

Since November 2015, the Commission has completed the following actions of the EU animal welfare strategy 2012-2015:

— A report on systems restraining bovine animals by inversion or any unnatural position COM/2016/048 adopted 8 February 2016;

— Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/336 of 8 March 2016 on the application of Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs as regards measures to reduce the need for tail-docking C/2016/1345 and a corresponding staff working document SWD (2016) 49 final;

— A study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices published on the Commission's website on 15 March 2016;

— A study on animal welfare education and on information activities directed at the general public and consumers published on the Commission's website on 15 March 2016;

— A report on the impact of genetic selection on the welfare of chickens bred and kept for meat production COM(2016) 182 adopted on 7 April 2016;

— A report on the implementation of Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes COM/2016/0558 final adopted on 8 September 2016.

The Commission will, as a priority, complete all remaining actions of the strategy by the end of 2017. In parallel, it will pursue the following key objectives on animal welfare:

— Strengthening the enforcement of existing rules;

— Improving dialogue with stakeholders by setting up an EU platform on animal welfare in 2017;

— Continuing to include animal welfare in our international activities. Furthermore, the Commission will, following the forthcoming adoption of the regulation on official controls in early 2017, designate one or more EU reference centre(s) on animal welfare.