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The European Commission published a study examining how the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014-20 contributed to improving animal welfare and reducing antimicrobial use.
In most of the regions/Member States studied, animal welfare and antimicrobial use were mostly addressed through rural development measures. They proved to be most effective when combining investments in better housing conditions, feeding, and health management. In most Member States/regions studied, cross-compliance through requirements of the EU legislation on animal welfare and food law was effective in influencing farmers’ practices. As a whole, the CAP appears to have helped improve animal welfare locally, in specific sectors and/or Member States and regions, depending on the implementation choices. However, it remains difficult to assess the actual changes in practices driven by CAP instruments, since we lack indicators to document progress made in implementing certain measures, or their corresponding effects.
This leads to a number of recommendations for the next CAP. The main recommendation is for Member States to implement more widespread measures targeting animal welfare. A common EU methodology to document best animal welfare practices to implement on-farm, with relevant targets, should be developed. Other suggestions include providing a comprehensive overview of the number of animals concerned by different types of interventions addressing animal welfare and antimicrobial use at national level; exploring the extension of mandatory labelling to other animal-husbandry sectors, by mentioning production systems or housing conditions on the label; and a methodology to find indicators to assess the level of ambition of the targets on animal welfare proposed in the CAP Strategic Plans.
Study on CAP Measures and Instruments Promoting Animal Welfare and Reduction of Antimicrobials Use
May 11, 2022/ European Commission/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu
