Feasibility Study on Animal Welfare Labelling and Setting up a Community Reference Centre for Animal Protection and Welfare
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MAIN QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STAKEHOLDERS
Please return filled questionnaire by email to no later than
11 July 2008
(please return in Word format and do not convert it to a .pdf document)
The Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010, adopted in January 2006, highlights the importance of consumer information as part of a comprehensive communication strategy on animal welfare. The European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee endorsed this approach and have called upon the Commission to take initiative in this regard. Civic Consulting of the Food Chain Evaluation Consortium (FCEC) has therefore been commissioned by the Health and Consumer Directorate General of the European Commission to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of options for indicating animal welfare related information on products of animal origin (part 1) and for establishing a Community Reference Centre for Animal Protection and Welfare (part 2).
This questionnaire is targeted to stakeholder organisations. We would encourage you to answer preferably in English, French or German. We very much appreciate your contribution to this study. We also kindly ask you to forward the separate questionnaires for animal welfare relevant labelling schemes and institutions working in the area of animal welfare to relevant contact persons that you may have (see questions 10 and 35 of this questionnaire).
If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact:
Marie-Pascale Doré ()
Phone: +49 30 2196 2295Fax: +49 30 2196 2298
1.Please identify yourself:
a.Please identify your organisation:
Please specify
b.Please identify the stakeholder category to which you belong:
Please select from the drop-down menuEU farmer/food sector associationNational farmer/food sector associationLivestock producer/food business operationCompetent authorityAdministrator of animal welfare labelling schemeAnimal welfare/consumer organisationPublic institute/universityPrivate institute dealing with animal welfareCertification bodyOtherEleveur nacional/association du secteur alimentaire
c.Please identify the country in which you are located:
Espagne
d. Please provide contact details for the person completing the questionnaire:
Part 1: Indicating animal welfare related information on products of animal origin
A. GENERAL ISSUES
2.What are the main current problems regarding animal welfare related information on products of animal origin? (check all that apply)
Animal welfare claims on packaging misleading
Animal welfare claims on packaging not based on certified standards
Inconsistency in animal welfare standards used for different labels/logos
Lack of consumer awareness of labels/logos
Problems of consumer understanding of labels/logos
Amount of information on packaging/products is overwhelming to consumers
Other current problem (please specify below)
There are no current problems
Ils n’existent pas de paramètres scientifiques établis. (Objectifs, mesurables et répétables) qui permettent de distinguer entre différents niveaux de bienêtre animal. Pour cela c’est impossible de l’afficher sur l’étiquetage
Les consommateurs n’accordent pas d’importance à ce type d’informations.
Selon les actuelles tendances marketing, il est préférable de mettre en avant les qualités nutritionnelles du produit et d’occulter la relation entre l’animal vivant et la viande.
3.What do you consider to be the main drivers and current trends of existing animal welfare relevant labelling schemes[1]? (check all that apply)
Growing consumer demand for higher animal welfare standards
Growing retail/wholesale demand for higher animal welfare standards
Price premium for products produced with higher animal welfare standards
Increase in number of animal welfare relevant labelling schemes
Legislative initiatives related to animal welfare
Other
Les seuls intéressés par ce type d’initiatives sont les grandes surfaces. En effet, cela leur permettrai de payer un prix inferieur aux producteurs qu’hypothétiquement pourraient avoir un niveau de bienêtre inferieur sans pour autant payer plus cher pour des standards hypothétiquement supérieurs. C’est cela qui arrive dans le secteur des œufs.
4.What are current needs/loopholes of existing animal welfare relevant labelling schemes?
Manque de connaissances scientifiques et objectives.
5.What are good practices of existing animal welfare relevant labelling schemes?
Nous ne connaissons pas aucun système de certification du bienêtre animal. Le respect du bienêtre des animaux provenant des pays tiers nous est inconnu.
6.What is the relevance of other labelling systems for any initiative related to animal welfare?
On ne devrait pas autoriser des stratégies de marketing de ce type basées sur des arguments de Bienêtre animal tant qu’il n’existe pas des critères scientifiques reconnus et des systèmes de contrôle adaptés
7.How could consistency between animal welfare related labelling and organic labelling be ensured?
Il n’y a pas des évidences scientifiques qui le démontrent
8.For each species, what is the percentage of livestock producers participating in animal welfare related labelling schemes[2] in your country (in 2007)?
Species / Percent of livestock producers involved in animal welfare related labelling schemes (in your country)Cattle / 0
Pigs / 0
Sheep and goats / 0
Poultry / 0
Other, please specify / 0
9.What is the market share of products labelled for animal welfare2 in your country in terms of volume (in 2007)?
Species / Percent of total labelled products on the market in your country(in terms of volume)
Beef and milk products / 0
Pork products / 0
Sheep and goat meat products / 0
Poultry meat and egg products / 0
100%
Other, please specify / Please estimate % of market share
10.Do you consider any of the existing animal welfare relevant labelling schemes as being of specific importance for this study?
Dans aucun des systèmes d’étiquetage en Espagne même pas dans le cas des produits écologiques ou des produits certifiés il n’est fait référence au bienêtre animal
If you have a contact to such a labelling scheme, please forward our separate questionnaire for existing labelling schemes, or send us an email so that we can forward it as soon as possible.
B. Assessment of OPTIONS
Please compare the following policy options for a possible EU initiative in the area of animal welfare labelling:
Baseline option
- No change
- Continuation of the current situation (status quo option)
Mandatory labelling
- Mandatory labelling of the welfare standards under which products of animal origin are produced
- Entailing a requirement for all relevant products of animal origin to include a label of the standard/measure of animal welfare achieved for farm animals - Mandatory labelling of the farming system under which products of animal origin are produced
- Entailing a requirement for all relevant products of animal origin to include a label of declaration of the system of production of farm animals - Mandatory labelling of compliance with EU minimum standards or equivalence with those
- Entailing a requirement for all relevant products of animal origin to include a label indicating compliance with EU minimum regulated standards (or equivalent)
Requirements for the voluntary use of claims
- Harmonised requirements for the voluntary use of claims in relation to animal welfare
- EU law will regulate mandatory standards that must be achieved when suppliers voluntarily label products indicating a certain standard/measure of animal welfare achieved for farm animals - Harmonised requirements for the voluntary use of claims in relation to farming systems
- EU law will regulate standards that must be achieved when suppliers voluntarily label products declaring the system of production of farm animals
Other options
- A Community Animal Welfare Label open for voluntary participation
- A harmonised EU-wide label would be established, organised, and/or managed in a harmonised way, providing for voluntary participation - Guidelines for the establishment of animal welfare labelling and quality schemes
- Guidelines could be established at an EU level to harmonise the establishment of animal welfare labelling and quality schemes
11.How do you assess the degree to which the options can be based on a sound scientific basis and benchmarks to assess the level of animal welfare?
Options / A sound scientific basis and benchmarks to assess the level of animal welfare provided is …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Not applicable
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
l n’existe pas de donnés scientifiques suffisantes donc nous sommes dans l’impossibilité de répondre a cette question.
12.How do you assess the degree to which the options can cover a broad range of farm animal species in order to avoid distortions of competition?
Options / Covering a broad range of farm animal species in order to avoid distortions of competition is …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Not applicable
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
Les distorsions entre la concurrence s’effectuent a travers des schémas de différentiation en matière de bien-être au niveau de l’étiquetage, différenciation qui, en absence de données scientifiques, est absolument mensongère et qui devrait comme telle être condamnable par les autorités
13.How do you assess the degree to which the options allow for inspection/audit and certification by independent certification bodies?
Options / Inspecting/auditing and certification by independent certification bodies is …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Not applicable
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery feasiblePartly feasibleNot at all feasibleDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Not applicable
Il est impossible de certifier/inspecter sans fixer préalablement des paramètres scientifiques standardisés
14.How do you assess the impact of the options on the animal welfare conditions on farms?
Options / The impact on the animal welfare conditions on farm is likely to be …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
Il est seulement envisageable de respecter la législation communautaire en matière de bien-être animal
15.How do you assess the impact of the options to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions?
Options / The impact of options to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions is likely to be …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery positiveSomewhat positiveNeutralSomewhat negativeVery negativeDon't know
Le consommateur n’accorde pas d’importance aux différences en matière de bien-être puisqu’elles ne correspondent à aucune réalité scientifique
16.How do you assess the impact of the options on production costs of livestock producers and other food business operations participating in the labelling scheme?[3]Please include in your consideration impacts on investment and operating costs.
Options / The impact on average production costs of participating livestock producers/food business operations is estimated to be …0. No change………………………………………………….. / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please provide estimated percentage change in production costs
Il y aurait encore un abus économique de la part des grandes surfaces au niveau de la chaîne de distribution similaire à ce qui existe déjà dans le secteur des œufs.
17.How do you assess the impact of the options on the net income[4] of livestock producers and other food business operations participating in the labelling scheme?[5]Please include in your consideration impacts on investments and operating costs, as well as potential increase in revenues because of possible price premiums for labelled products.
Options / The impact on net income of participating livestock producers/food business operations is…0. No change………………………………………………….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
1. Mandatory labelling (welfare standards)…………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
2. Mandatory labelling (farming systems)……………………. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
3. Mandatory labelling (compliance with EU min. standards).. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
4. Requirements for the use of claims (welfare standards)…… / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
5. Requirements for the use of claims (farming systems)……. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
6. Community Animal Welfare Label………………………... / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
7. Guidelines for animal welfare labelling/quality schemes….. / Please select from the drop-down menuVery significant increase in net incomeSignificant increase in net incomeNeutralSignificant decrease in net incomeVery significant decrease in net incomeDon't know
Les éleveurs ne percevraient pas pour autant des revenus supplémentaires, par contre ils auraient des coûts très supérieurs
18.How do you assess the impact of the options on the consumer price of labelled products?