Interaction between the animal welfare and accession to the European Union

Abstract

All elements of the modern animal welfare concept have continuously been introduced into the Hungarian veterinary legislation over the past decades. This legislation was one of the pioneers in Europe in this respect. The veterinary students had theoretical and practical training in many aspects of animal welfare in a wide range of disciplines, such as (inter alia) animal and food hygiene, public veterinary administration.
Since the year 1968 a designated staff member of the Animal Health and Food Control Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been in charge of animal hygiene. A series of booklets served as a source of information on hygiene (welfare) requirements set for large- scale animal husbandry. These separate tools were compiled into a single book in 1978. All the following legal texts have been based upon the principles laid down in the said time.
Since a new era started in early 90s, the Hungarian veterinary legislation has also to be amended according to the emerging needs. The wording changed, but the welfare principles could remain the same. The veterinary act in force and its implementing governmental and ministerial decrees could keep the main points.
The role and responsibility of the veterinary services were extended by a series of the recent acts and their implementing decrees. It is not enough to deal with traditional welfare issues, but the veterinary services have an obligation to participate in controlling the enforcement of the ban on dogfight, as well as the most recent amendments to the Penal Code.
Transposition of the European Union’s welfare legislation has been completed. Remarkable steps were taken to implement these rules. A network of veterinary animal welfare inspectors has been set up in the framework of the county animal health and food control stations. The inspectors can follow the checklists during their inspections and reporting.
Close and reliable links were built to connect the different authorities and non-governmental organizations involved in the same field. Due to the enhanced public awareness, favourable changes took place in relation to the conditions for keeping, handling, transporting and slaughtering farm animals.
A transitional period by the end of the year 2009 was granted for 21 laying hen farms, related to the size and construction of the cages.
A National Rural Development Plan has been developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional development, aiming at improving the conditions of the agricultural production. An important part of this plan is "Meeting standards of the EU in environmental protection, animal welfare and hygiene".
Meeting welfare standards in live animal transport is one of the outstanding issues. Not only transposition of the relevant EU legislation has been completed, but also Hungary intends to participate in the ongoing discussions by different EU bodies over this topic. We are interested in relevant improvements in the transport conditions on the one hand, while our ability to maintain our export of traditional goods, as well as fair control of transiting consignments are of paramount importance on the other hand. We are ready to keep and execute all future rules, provided they are agreed.