§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote the development of internationally-agreed animal welfare standards in the context of the WTO negotiations building on existing work in the Council of Europe. [120123]
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§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 20 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.
We strongly supported the requirement in Article 8 of Directive 98/58/EC for the European Commission to report on the scope for developing wider international acceptance of EU farm welfare standards. Their report—which is overdue—will be a key element in defining how to approach this issue. For our own part, we have argued for the Office International des Epizooties to extend its activities to animal welfare: and we will take all opportunities offered by international gatherings such as the Animals 2000 World Congress of the World Society for the Protection of Animals to make contracts and advance this question.