European Commission Proposes Improvements
 in Welfare Conditions of Pigs

The European Commission approved, on January 16, a proposal which will, if accepted, prohibit the confinement of 6 million pigs during “most of their pregnancy to individual stalls which severely restrict their freedom of movement. The proposal also sets out rules to improve the living environment of pigs and piglets in general, setting requirements for living spaces, floor surfaces, and proper feeding systems. New requirements for training of pig handlers are also introduced. In addition, the Commission is proposing tougher regulation of noise and light levels, access to food and materials for rooting, timing of weaning of piglets, flooring surfaces, and the prohibition of the worst types of routine mutilations.

“The new rules will be introduced gradually over a more than 10 year period to allow industry time to adjust buildings to higher pig welfare standards. The rules are proposed to come into force in 2012, while some key provisions will apply to new holdings as of the first of January 2002.”

Quotes are from Europa, the European Union’s website. For the full text of the report on intensive pig farming and the 1997 scientific opinion on it, visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/oldcomm4/out17_en.html.