Letters to the Editor: Less talk, more action on animal welfare

New Dutch law showing Ireland the way on live exports

The Irish Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published earlier this year, is a million miles from what they are doing in the Netherlands. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

New legislation passed by the Dutch Senate could signal a sea change in animal welfare legislation across the EU. The Dutch move comes at an interesting time: the EU is on the verge of passing ‘End the Cage Age’ legislation, a significant event in farm-animal welfare which could see all farmed animals out of cages by 2027.

The new Dutch law was initiated by the pro-animal Partij voor de Dieren, and will come into effect in 2023.
It stipulates that animals must no longer suffer pain or discomfort when kept in cages or stables, and must be able to display natural behaviour. Displaying natural behaviour will almost certainly mean that piglets or calves cannot be removed from their mothers before they are weaned. The new law could also prohibit owners from keeping a rabbit in a hutch or a bird in a cage because these are social animals. The legislation may eventually put an end to intensive livestock farming in the Netherlands.