Document type : news from theFrench Academy of Agriculture
Author: French Academy of Agriculture
Preview: A working group from the French Académie d'Agriculture has been examining these issues. It has just published a summary of the discussions among its members [...]. Its conclusions are as follows:
Western societies are increasingly looking to achieve a balance between the interests of animals and those of their owners/keepers, in other words, between the recognition of the sentient nature of animals and acceptance of their economic uses. Changes in the way the Civil Code is written have opened the door to new discussions between those seeking to grant rights to animals and those who are thinking in terms of legal measures based on property law. This debate remains wide open. The considerable output from academics in law departments and the proliferation of university courses on the subject are testimony to current interest in this topic, which continues to evolve. In order to ensure that the legal treatment of animals moves forward in harmony with scientific progress on the emotional sensitivities of animals and their economic uses, particularly in livestock farming, it is imperative to support the industry in the long-term development of animal-friendly practices, and to ensure that scientific knowledge on animal sentience is disseminated to the general public.
Given the economic and social difficulties faced by livestock farming, particularly in France, this report focuses on the general benefits of livestock farming, which meets many of society's needs. Having established the legitimacy of livestock farming, the report turns to the creation of laws that apply to animals, in particular those used for farming. Different scenarios for the future of the law's approach to animals are then explored. Last, the report explores the consequences of each proposed scenario for livestock farming practices, selecting three scenarios that reconcile animal sentience with livestock farming activities. The members of the Académie's working group on the legal status of animals do however stress that these three scenarios require more in-depth legal analysis, to ensure that proposed changes to the legal treatment of animals do not jeopardize livestock farming activities.
Summary contents:
Livestock farming: an activity for the common good that meets the needs of society
The need for the law concerning animals to be clarified
Questioning the law concerning the treatment of animals
Three legal scenarios of interest to livestock farming
To read the full report "Le statut juridique des animaux en France : Quelles évolutions ? Quelles répercussions pour l’élevage ? Click on the link below to read the full report:
https://www.academie-agriculture.fr/publications/publications-academie/avis/rapp...
