European citizens have always shown sensitivity towards the treatment of farmed animals and, at every available opportunity, have reaffirmed their positions by making their voices heard on the matter. Despite this, progress in legislation on the treatment of animals has been considerably slowed by the pressure from farmers’ lobbies. Added to this is the fact that even existing and sufficiently clear rules – not vague or open to interpretation – have unfortunately remained a dead letter.
An emblematic example of this situation is the practice of tail docking in piglets, a persistent problem that highlights the resistance encountered in implementing European provisions that are meant to guarantee “animal welfare”.
It is worth clarifying that the provisions of the 2008 directive (as well as the earlier 1991 directive) generally prohibit the tail docking of piglets, which may only be performed as a last resort, that is, in cases where every intervention to prevent biting has proven unsuccessful.
Alternatives to indiscriminate tail docking include:
- the introduction of environmental enrichments;
- improvement of temperature, humidity and lighting parameters;
- greater health monitoring;
- the right choice of diet;
- the reduction of density, as well as other more specific measures that can collectively reduce biting;
- introduction of manipulable materials that allow pigs to engage in their natural exploratory behaviour, thus avoiding boredom and frustration, which cause tail biting.
According to official data, in Italy only 15% of farmed pigs do not undergo tail docking: indeed, the vast majority of farmers continue to carry out this painful mutilation on their animals, without any form of anaesthesia, ignoring the preventive alternatives mentioned above, which are designed to engage animals in activities that prevent them from relieving stress by biting the tails of their companions. The Ministry of Health has launched an ambitious plan to bring the percentage of intact-tailed pigs to 100% by the end of 2024, but it seems difficult to predict that this goal will be met.
The economic interests of farmers play a significant role in delaying the adaptation of farms to European standards. The economic and political pressure exerted by these organisations has often influenced legislative decisions, slowing progress and keeping harmful and outdated practices in place.
A fundamental part of our work at the European level, carried out in collaboration with Eurogroup for Animals, consists of countering the power of lobbies and ensuring that political decisions are guided by respect for animals rather than by vested interests.
The opinions expressed by European institutions themselves, such as EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority), in response to requests from the European Commission, have been clear in underlining the need to improve the regulatory framework on animal welfare, in line with the recommendations of the European Parliament and the will expressed by citizens.
The recent letter sent to the European Commission by Compassion in World Farming International and signed by ALI alongside dozens of other organisations highlights the persistent non-compliance with European legislation on the part of many Member States and the need for urgent action to put an end once and for all to the cruel practice of pig tail docking.
In the coming months, through the #VoteforAnimals campaign promoted by Eurogroup for Animals and carried forward by the most important European animal rights organisations (including Animal Law Italia), we will work to ensure that this issue is also included in the electoral programmes for the upcoming European elections in June.