Document type: Answer to Question E-001689/25 from the European Commission
Authors: question : Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Robert Biedroń (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Marianne Vind (S&D), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Maria Noichl (S&D), Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA), Günther Sidl (S&D), Per Clausen (The Left), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Alice Kuhnke (Greens/EFA), Pär Holmgren (Greens/EFA), Christel Schaldemose (S&D). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Preview: Question. While up to one billion fish are farmed in the EU each year, there are no rules to protect them. Yet several opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) demonstrate that fish are sentient beings, and nine out of ten EU citizens want better protection for farmed fish. Cost-effective solutions are available, with a recent report by environmental economist Griffin Carpenter showing that implementing stunning in EU aquaculture is economically feasible[1]The Commissioners for animal welfare and fisheries have reiterated their commitment to modernising the rules on animal welfare and making aquatic animal welfare a priority of their respective mandates.The Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food calls for animal welfare standards to be applied to imports in order to boost food security and competitiveness in the EU.In view of the above:1.Will farmed aquatic animals be included in the scope of the upcoming consultations on the animal welfare legislation taking place this year?2Will the Commission commit to delivering species-specific welfare provisions for farmed fish and other aquatic animals, as part of the comprehensive modernisation of animal welfare laws on kept animals, slaughter and labelling, based on the upcoming EFSA opinions on farmed finfish and invertebrates?
[1] https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/library/stunning-results-eu-aquaculture.
Answer: As announced in the Vision on Agriculture and Food[1]the Commission intends to present a targeted review of the animal welfare legislation, also aiming to follow up on the European Citizens' Initiative 'End the Cage Age'.[2]. The Commission will do this in line with the latest science provided by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), taking account of ethical, scientific and economic considerations, as well as the EU's multilateral obligations. At this stage, aquatic animals are not included in the scope of the consultations that will be carried out this year in preparation of the on-farm welfare legislative proposal.Concerning aquatic animals, the Commission is focussing on improved implementation of the existing rules applicable to these animals. The recently established EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare on aquatic animals (EURCAW aqua) will, amongst others, support Member States in carrying out official controls. It will furthermore increase scientific and technical knowledge on aquatic animal welfare needs. Work is ongoing on animal welfare indicators for farmed fish, through the work of the EURCAW aqua, the EU Aquaculture Assistance Mechanism, as well as an ongoing study on animal welfare indicators.
[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0075.
[2] https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2018/000004/end-cage-age_en
From the European Parliament website
