Danish Minister Calls for Improved EU Animal Welfare Standards

Danish Food and Agriculture Minister Mette Gjerskov has reportedly urged
the European Union (EU) and its member states to support improved animal
welfare standards. In January 2012, the European Commission released a new
animal welfare strategy, details of which were covered in Issue 425 of this
Update.

Speaking to an international conference in Brussels, Belgium, Gjerskov
asserted that the “increasing” transportation of animals for slaughter across
Europe was “worrying,” as evidenced by a petition signed by 1 million EU
citizens who have challenged current regulations allowing such journeys to
exceed 24 hours by calling for an eight-hour maximum. “The fact that so many
people signed a petition is a signal to politicians that there is great concern
about how we care for animals,” Gjerskov said. “We need to raise standards
beyond legal requirements.” See theparliament.com, February 29, 2012.