7th December 2005

The Gloucestershire Green party have completed an online European Commission opinion poll regarding the welfare and protection of farmed animals. The poll is part of the European Commission's plans to draw up a Community Action Plan on Animal Welfare and Protection in which animal protection policies will be outlined.

Philip Booth, a Gloucestershire Green party spokesperson who coordinated responses to the poll said: "The Gloucestershire Green party welcomes this opportunity to participate. There is growing interest in more humane, free-range farming methods for animals in some countries, but sadly the vast majority of animal products come from intensive farming."

Philip Booth added: "There is much to be disturbed about when you look closer. Every year for example in the EU 5,000 million broiler chickens are factory farmed in terrible conditions that research has shown leads to huge welfare problems like leg disorders and ammonia burns. This is clearly wrong. Another example is the fact that the trade in live animal exports from the UK for slaughter resumed in October - this unnecessarily cruel practice should not be stopped immediately."

Philip Booth said: "We've put the Gloucestershire Green party's comments on our website (www.glosgreenparty.org.uk) and would urge others to make their views known."

Deadline to complete the opinion poll: 20 December 2005. You can give your opinion on the welfare of farmed animals in Europe by completing the multiple choice questionnaire at the European Commission website.
 

The Gloucestershire Green party responses are included below:

Questions 1 - 4 are for individual responses.

5. In general, do you believe that the level of welfare / protection of animals farmed within the EU is:
Green party response - 'VERY POOR'

6. More specifically for each of the following animals farmed within the EU do you believe that their level of welfare/ protection is:
6.1 Dairy cows: Green party response- 'VERY POOR'
6.2 Beef cattle: Green party response - 'POOR'
6.3 Calves: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.4 Sheep: Green party response - 'POOR'
6.5. Goats: Green party response - 'POOR'
6.6 Pigs: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.7 Hens: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.8 Broiler chickens (kept for meat production): Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.9 Turkeys: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.10 Ducks: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.11 Geese: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.12 Horses: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.13 Rabbits: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.14 Farmed fish: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'
6.15 Fur animals: Green party response - 'VERY POOR'

7. In general, do you believe that more needs to be done to improve the level of welfare / protection of animals farmed within the EU?
Green party response - 'YES CERTAINLY'

8. More specifically, for each of the following animals farmed within the EU do you believe that more needs to be done to improve their current level of welfare / protection
8.1 - 8.15: Green party response - 'YES CERTAINLY' to all

10. Do you believe that food retailers currently provide sufficient information on the animal welfare conditions under which their products are sourced?
Green party response is 'NO CERTAINLY NOT'

11. Would you like food products to be labelled more clearly to indicate the animal welfare conditions under which these products are sourced?
Green party response - 'YES CERTAINLY'

12. How useful could the following sources be to improve your knowledge of the way animals are farmed in your country?
The Green party believes that the following in particular are 'VERY USEFUL':
Information from personal experience of visiting farms
Information from farmers' organisations
Information from government
Information from retailers (shops, supermarkets etc)
Information from the food industry
Information from animal protection organisations
Information from school / university
Information from food labels

13. Do you believe that the EU should do more to promote a greater awareness of animal welfare / protection internationally?
Green party response - 'YES CERTAINLY'

14. Do you believe that imported foods should be produced under conditions of animal welfare / protection at least as high as those applied in your country?
Green party response to this question is - 'YES CERTAINLY'

15. Do you believe that consumers currently receive enough information on the conditions of welfare / protection under which animals are farmed within the EU?
Green party response to this question is 'NO, CERTAINLY NOT'

16. Do you believe that a better knowledge of farming practices could influence your decisions when purchasing food?
Green party response - 'YES CERTAINLY'

17. Do you believe that producing food under higher conditions of animal welfare / protection would result in:
17.1 - better food taste: Green party response is 'YES, PROBABLY'
17.2 - better food safety: Green party response is 'YES, PROBABLY'
17.3 - better food quality: Green party response is 'YES, PROBABLY'
17.4 - better animal health: Green party response is 'YES CERTAINLY'
17.5 - better animal productivity (eg better growth): Green party response is 'NO, PROBABLY NOT'
17.6 - more ethically acceptable food products: Green party response is 'YES CERTAINLY'

18. For farm animal production systems in the EU please classify for each of the following factors whether in terms of animal welfare / protection you believe it is important or not that:
18.1 - 18.10 Green party response is 'VERY IMPORTANT' to all