European Commission
Health & Consumers
Directorate General
The European approach – research and funding for
future steps
Andrea GAVINELLI
Directorate Veterinary and International Affairs
Animal Welfare Unit
The views expressed may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an
official position of the European Commission
European Partnership on Pig Castration
The Commission facilitated the
elaboration of the European
Declaration on alternatives to
surgical castration of pigs
The Declaration was signed
in December 2010 by main
organisations of the pig sector
The declaration is an open
invitation for every actor in
the European pig sector and
European retailers to join this
voluntary initiative
European Declaration on alternatives
to surgical castration of pigs
European Representatives of the pig sector
commit to voluntarily stop surgical castration
by 1 January 2018 provided certain tools are
available such as harmonised methods at
European Level to detect Boar Taint.
From 1 January 2012 surgical castration of
pigs will be performed with prolonged analgesia
and/or anesthesia.
The Declaration establishes a European
Partnership on Pig Castration.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/farm/i
nitiatives_en.htm
European Declaration on alternatives
to surgical castration of pigs
voluntary agreement to phase out
surgical castration of pigs in Europe by
1 January 2018
COPA-COGECA
Eurogroup for Animals
UECBV (The European Livestock and Meat Trading
Union)
CLITRAVI (Liaison Center for the Meat Processing
Industry in the European Union)
FESASS (The European Federation for Animal
Health and Sanitary Security)
EAAP (European Federation for Animal Science)
EFFAB (European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders)
FVE
Danish Agriculture and Food Council
DBV (German farmer association)
VDF (German meat industry association)
HDE (German retail association)
Scientific experts from INRA
COV (Dutch red meat slaughterhouses)
LTO Nederland (Dutch pig farmers organisation)
NVV (Dutch pig farmers organisation)
NBHV (Dutch livestock traders organisation)
ANAS (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Suini) – Italy
DMRI (Danish Meat Research Institute)
OIVO - CRIOC (Centre de Recherche et d'Information
des Organisations de Consommateurs)
FEFAC (European Feed Manufacturers' Federation)
CIWF (Compassion in World Farming)
The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
– Republic of Ireland
Finnish Farm Animal Welfare Council
Galician Meat Technology Centre – Spain
Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals
PROVIEH VgtM e.V. – Germany
SCIENTIFIC EXPERT from IFIP - “Institut du porc en
France"
European Partnership on pig
castration
Financial support from the EU to develop the
tools to achieve this objective
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19
August 2011 adopting a work programme for
the financing of the activities of the Union on
alternatives to surgical castration of pigs
(2011/C 243/06)
Total amount: EUR 1 330 000
Six actions in 2011/2012
Six actions of the financing decision
1.
development of reference methods recognised by the European
Union for the detection and measurement of the main
compounds responsible for boar taint
2.
open call for tender for a study on consumer acceptance in the
European Union and in third countries of pig meat obtained from
male pigs not surgically castrated, its publication and the
dissemination of related information
3.
open call for tender for a study on rapid detection methods for
boar taint used or being developed at slaughter plants in the
European Union
4.
open call for tender for a study on how to achieve reduction of
boar taint compounds by breeding, feeding and management
techniques
5.
a study and economic analysis of the costs and benefits of
ending surgical castration of pigs paying special attention to the
share of costs within the whole pig meat chain
6.
develop, host and maintain a dedicated website to the actions of
the European Union on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs
Work Programme
1.Development of reference methods
recognised by the European Union for the
detection and the measurement of the
main compounds responsible for boar
taint
EUR 350.000
administrative agreement with the Joint
Research Center, Institute for Reference
Materials and Measurements (JRC-IRMM), in
Geel
Signature before the end of 2011
Duration: 2 year
Work Programme
2. Study on consumer acceptance in
the European Union and in third
countries of pig meat obtained from
male pigs not surgically castrated
EUR 250.000
open call for tender
Indicative date for publishing: March 2012
duration: 24 months
Work Programme
3. Study on rapid detection methods
for boar taint used or being
developed at slaughter plants in the
European Union
EUR 150.000
open call for tender
Indicative date for publishing: April 2012
duration: 18 months
Work Programme
4. Study on how to achieve reduction of
boar taint compounds by breeding,
feeding and management techniques
EUR 250.000
open call for tender
Indicative date for publishing: April 2012
duration: 24 months
Work Programme
5. Study and economic analysis of the
costs and benefits of ending surgical
castration of pigs
EUR 150.000
use of existing framework contract
Indicative date launching the procedure :
June 2012
duration: 18 months
Work Programme
6. Developing, hosting and maintaining a
dedicated website providing education
and training to the main interested
parties of the pig sector on the actions
of the European Union on alternatives
to surgical castration of pigs
EUR 30.000
use of existing framework contract
launching the procedure :
January/February 2012
Indicative Timeline
2011
2012
2014
2015
2018
Something “new” is coming...
Future strategy on animal welfare 20112015
Need to reinforce existing tools
Enforcement (e.g. common methodology to
address animal welfare risks)
Research
International cooperation
Communication and education
Future workshop
On pig castration planned for
September 2012
Thank you