The enforcement of animal welfare legislation falls within the principle of subsidiarity, which means that:
EU countries are responsible for:
- day to day enforcement through their national legislation and control activities
- transposition of directives into national legislation and the implementation of EU rules at national level
Commission is responsible for:
- providing appropriate information and where necessary training on EU legislative requirements
- ensuring that EU legislation is properly implemented and enforced
- in extreme cases taking action against EU countries that have failed to implement legal requirements
How this is achieved:
- inspections and controls undertaken by the Health and Food Audits and Analysis Directorate to check that competent authorities in EU countries apply EU legislation in an effective and uniform way
- the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health provides a platform for representatives of the Member States to discuss issues of public or animal health or animal welfare and when necessary approve urgent measures
- For scientific opinions reference is made to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)
Areas of responsibility:
- The legislation is designed to cover all stages of a farm animal's life whilst on the farm, during transport and at the time of killing.