HL Deb 05 May 1998 vol 589 cc51-2WA
Baroness Anelay of St. Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 9 April (H.L. Deb., col. 850), whether they have been successful in putting on the agenda of the WTO Ministerial Conference in May the issue of establishment of European Union and WTO equivalents of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. [HL1532]

Lord Donoughue

Setting farm animal welfare standards is not one of the WTO's responsibilities. It would not therefore be fruitful to propose the setting-up of an equivalent of the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) to advise the WTO. The setting up of FAWC equivalents is an approach that we regularly commend to those of the other EU member states that have not already done this.

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the position of the European Union with regard to animal welfare which is to be put forward at the WTO Ministerial Conference in May. [HL1531]

Lord Donoughue

There is no agreement within the EU to raise this issue at the WTO Ministerial in May. The purpose of the May Ministerial is to adopt a general declaration paying tribute to the achievements of the multilateral trading system over the last 50 years and, in relation to preparing future WTO negotiations, to do no more than set the procedures in train.