European Commission Health & Consumers Directorate General The European approach – research and funding for future steps Andrea GAVINELLI Directorate Veterinary and International Affairs Animal Welfare Unit The views expressed may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission

European Partnership on Pig Castration The Commission facilitated the elaboration of the European Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs The Declaration was signed in December 2010 by main organisations of the pig sector The declaration is an open invitation for every actor in the European pig sector and European retailers to join this voluntary initiative

European Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs European Representatives of the pig sector commit to voluntarily stop surgical castration by 1 January 2018 provided certain tools are available such as harmonised methods at European Level to detect Boar Taint. From 1 January 2012 surgical castration of pigs will be performed with prolonged analgesia and/or anesthesia. The Declaration establishes a European Partnership on Pig Castration. http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/farm/initiatives_en.htm

European Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs voluntary agreement to phase out surgical castration of pigs in Europe by 1 January 2018 COPA-COGECA Eurogroup for Animals UECBV (The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union) CLITRAVI (Liaison Center for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union) FESASS (The European Federation for Animal Health and Sanitary Security) EAAP (European Federation for Animal Science) EFFAB (European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders) FVE Danish Agriculture and Food Council DBV (German farmer association) VDF (German meat industry association) HDE (German retail association) Scientific experts from INRA COV (Dutch red meat slaughterhouses) LTO Nederland (Dutch pig farmers organisation) NVV (Dutch pig farmers organisation) NBHV (Dutch livestock traders organisation) ANAS (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Suini) – Italy DMRI (Danish Meat Research Institute) OIVO - CRIOC (Centre de Recherche et d'Information des Organisations de Consommateurs) FEFAC (European Feed Manufacturers' Federation) CIWF (Compassion in World Farming) The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Republic of Ireland Finnish Farm Animal Welfare Council Galician Meat Technology Centre – Spain Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals PROVIEH VgtM e.V. – Germany SCIENTIFIC EXPERT from IFIP - “Institut du porc en France"

European Partnership on pig castration Financial support from the EU to develop the tools to achieve this objective COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 19 August 2011 adopting a work programme for the financing of the activities of the Union on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs (2011/C 243/06) Total amount: EUR 1 330 000 Six actions in 2011/2012

Six actions of the financing decision development of reference methods recognised by the European Union for the detection and measurement of the main compounds responsible for boar taint open call for tender for a study on consumer acceptance in the European Union and in third countries of pig meat obtained from male pigs not surgically castrated, its publication and the dissemination of related information open call for tender for a study on rapid detection methods for boar taint used or being developed at slaughter plants in the European Union open call for tender for a study on how to achieve reduction of boar taint compounds by breeding, feeding and management techniques a study and economic analysis of the costs and benefits of ending surgical castration of pigs paying special attention to the share of costs within the whole pig meat chain develop, host and maintain a dedicated website to the actions of the European Union on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs

Work Programme Development of reference methods recognised by the European Union for the detection and the measurement of the main compounds responsible for boar taint EUR 350.000 administrative agreement with the Joint Research Center, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (JRC-IRMM), in Geel Signature before the end of 2011 Duration: 2 year

Work Programme Study on consumer acceptance in the European Union and in third countries of pig meat obtained from male pigs not surgically castrated EUR 250.000 open call for tender Indicative date for publishing: March 2012 duration: 24 months

Work Programme Study on rapid detection methods for boar taint used or being developed at slaughter plants in the European Union EUR 150.000 open call for tender Indicative date for publishing: April 2012 duration: 18 months

Work Programme Study on how to achieve reduction of boar taint compounds by breeding, feeding and management techniques EUR 250.000 open call for tender Indicative date for publishing: April 2012 duration: 24 months

Work Programme Study and economic analysis of the costs and benefits of ending surgical castration of pigs EUR 150.000 use of existing framework contract Indicative date launching the procedure : June 2012 duration: 18 months

Work Programme Developing, hosting and maintaining a dedicated website providing education and training to the main interested parties of the pig sector on the actions of the European Union on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs EUR 30.000 use of existing framework contract launching the procedure : January/February 2012

Indicative Timeline reduction of boar taint compounds by breeding, feeding development of reference methods study on consumer acceptance rapid detection methods for boar taint study and economic analysis website 2011 2012 2014 2015 2018

Something “new” is coming... Future strategy on animal welfare 2011-2015 Need to reinforce existing tools Enforcement (e.g. common methodology to address animal welfare risks) Research International cooperation Communication and education 15

Future workshop On pig castration planned for September 2012 16

Thank you