Farming
The last decade has seen a steady growth in public concern about farm animal welfare.
As a result, significant improvements have been achieved. The veal crate has been prohibited in the EU since 2007. Battery cages will be prohibited EUwide from 2012. Sow stalls have been banned in the UK since 1999 and will be prohibited throughout the EU from 2013. Despite this progress, major reforms in farming are urgently needed. The majority of pigs, chickens and turkeys continue to be farmed industrially. Vote Cruelty Free believes that animals should not be considered objects for our convenience, and we want to ensure that all animals reared for food are treated humanely.
Commitments sought from UK government
- The export of animals for slaughter or fattening should be brought to an end
- The cloning of animals and the marketing of food from cloned animals or their offspring should be prohibited
- ‘Enriched’ cages for egg laying hens should be prohibited; farmers should move away from cage egg production and instead use well-designed barn and free range systems
- The government must enforce the EU legislation requiring pigs to be provided with enrichment materials and prohibiting routine tail docking
- Animal welfare should be seen as one of the core objectives of government food policy
- Public sector bodies should, when procuring food and meals, purchase to high standards of animal welfare.
