Slaughter of pregnant cows

30.11.2016

Question for written answer E-009014-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Louis Michel (ALDE)

In recent months, the media has been exposing us to disturbing images of pregnant cows being slaughtered. Such practices clearly show that animal abuse is far from being eliminated.

From a legal perspective, the slaughter of pregnant cows is legal. There is no legislation that bans this practice. Only Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations bans the transport of ‘pregnant females for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already passed’. The Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health also provides that ‘pregnant animals that would be in the final 10% of their gestation period at the planned time of unloading at the slaughterhouse should be neither transported nor slaughtered’. However, this is merely a recommendation, not a regulation. This is the crux of the problem.

Given its desire to take action in the area of animal welfare and its arsenal of texts and laws aimed at protecting animals, is the Commission considering taking steps to reinforce European legislation on the slaughter of pregnant cows and to eliminate such practices in the Member States’ abattoirs?