European legislation on trout and Atlantic salmon
4.10.2017
Question for written answer E-006234-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marlene Mizzi (S&D)
According to the recent study Animal Welfare in the European Union conducted by Policy Department C of Parliament’s Directorate-General for Internal Policies, there are major gaps between animal welfare‐related legislation and policy, and there is no general law on animal welfare at EU level. While broiler chickens for meat production are the most commonly kept animals in Europe and their living conditions are secured somewhat by Directive 2007/43/EC[1], other commonly kept animals in Europe are not the subject of any legislation at EU level, as pointed out by the study. There is no EU legislation for trout, the second commonest farmed animal in Europe, or for Atlantic salmon, the third commonest, despite the large numbers of these animals in Europe (estimated at around 1 000 million for trout and 440 million for Atlantic salmon).
Can the Commission clarify whether these animals have been included in the latest EU Animal Welfare Strategy, and, if so, what are the possible actions and legislative proposals to be carried out? If not, can the Commission explain the reasons for not including them, and set out what other possible measures could be taken at EU level, in order to avoid poor welfare for trout and Atlantic salmon?
- [1] Council Directive 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, OJ L 182, 12.7.2007, p. 19.