Common Agricultural Policy

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has regulated farming and livestock production over 50 years. The original CAP aimed at guaranteeing sufficient food supply and decent living for farmers. Subsidising production has led to intensification with numerous animal welfare problems from breeding to unsuitable barren housing conditions to transport and slaughter.

ABOUT THE ISSUE

The 2003 reform was due to turn the focus from quantity to better quality production with increased attention to sustainable agriculture and citizens’ concerns, including animal welfare. To date the largest part of CAP subsidies is however still going to large industrial agro-business and very little financial support is provided for animal welfare.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION

Farmers receiving direct subsidies from the CAP can see this aid reduced or withdrawn if they do not respect animal welfare legislation. Farmers can be supported by rural development measures to improve animal welfare but there is no obligation for Member States to offer this support and only 21 rural development programmes out of 90 currently in place include animal welfare payments. Legislative proposals for a reformed CAP were published on 12 October 2011.

WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR

• A basic payment to reward farmers respecting legal animal welfare requirements
• Subsidies for producers applying higher animal welfare standards
• Current animal welfare measures under rural development to continue; the animal welfare payment to be made compulsory
• A specific budget to be allocated to animal welfare measures in rural development
• Payments to be conditional to compliance with all EU farm animal welfare legal standards, for all farmers receiving subsidies