Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission

21.11.2013

It is correct that Article 13 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union[1] concerns all animals and not only those that are farmed. In the EU Animal Welfare Strategy 2012-2015[2], possible measures in relation to wild animals and pets will be considered. It is not the Commission's intention to restrict the scope of Article 13 but rather to highlight the efforts that have been made to improve the welfare of both farmed animals and those used for scientific purposes[3] while listing some of the most recent achievements in this area.

• [1] OJ C 326, 26.10.2012.
• [2] http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/index_en.htm
• [3] See paragraph on the ban on animal testing for cosmetics in the same document.

OJ C 208, 03/07/2014