Following the conversion of its ‘Recovery Decree’(1) (Decreto Rilancio) into law, Italy has set up a ‘National Quality System for Animal Welfare’ (SQNBA). Membership is voluntary and its aim is to issue animal welfare certificates in accordance with requirements that are higher than those laid down in EU and national law, including the relevant labelling.

From the information available(2), it would appear that operators raising pigs with non-intact tails will also be given access to the SNQBA.

Can the Commission say whether:

1. granting SNQBA access, albeit conditional and temporary, to operators who continue to practise pig tail docking is compatible with Directive 2008/120/EC(3) and its accompanying Recommendation (EU) 2016/336;

2. such labelling can be a useful information tool for consumers in the absence of clear guidance on production methods;

3. such national labelling is consistent with the transition to more ethical, sustainable and cage-free farming systems, which is the aim of the ongoing legislative review under the Farm to Fork strategy, and in particular with EU labelling based on production methods and a commitment to banning cage systems?