Document type article published on the RTL Info website
Author: Agence Belga
Preview: On Wednesday night, the Flemish Parliament adopted an animal welfare code, sponsored by the minister responsible, Ben Weyts. Opposition support was necessary, as coalition partners CD&V and Open VLD were opposed to the status quo principle in the decree stating that animal protection cannot deteriorate. The two parties warned against the broad legal scope of this principle, and therefore sought to remove it from the code. Several CD&V members either abstained or voted against the bill, which nevertheless received the green light from the Flemish Parliament. According to Minister Ben Weyts, the Code is "the cherry on the cake" of Flanders' animal welfare policy. "The cake may not be perfect and neither is the cherry. Some believe the code to go too far, others, not far enough. But I'm a man of my word, and this code is a big step forward for animal welfare ", he commented. The Flemish code brings together existing and new regulations in this area: for example, it bans animal markets and the home slaughter of certain animals (such as pigs, sheep and goats). It also makes provision to end poultry cages, as poultry farms gradually transition to aviary systems. Poultry cages will no longer be accepted in the North of the country from 2036. It replaces the Flemish legislation on animal welfare established forty years previously. The code defends the view that every animal is a living being endowed with feelings, specific needs and intrinsic value. It follows that animals must be adequately protected, and any neglect of their needs must be punished.
