Agriculture - Black for video surveillance in slaughterhouses
Schleswig-Holstein's Agriculture Minister Werner Schwarz welcomes the plans of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for video surveillance in slaughterhouses to improve animal welfare. "The introduction of video surveillance in slaughterhouses is an important step to prevent animal suffering in individual businesses," said the CDU politician in the Bundesrat. In addition, slaughterhouses could document that they work reliably – this builds trust.
Furthermore, there is another important issue for the minister of the northernmost federal state in the draft law of the Federal Government, which aims to amend the Animal Welfare Act: stopping illegal animal trading. Schwarz emphasized that the trade of animals on the internet enables the purchase of animals that have been raised under poor conditions and sold too young or sick.
To effectively combat this trade, the requirement for suppliers to disclose their identities in online trading is a clear signal. "I am pleased that this aspect is now taken up in the draft law," said Schwarz.
Schwarz also sees weaknesses
However, not all the proposed changes in the draft law are acceptable to Schwarz. For example, there could have been more time given for the consideration of numerous planned changes. The Minister referred to new requirements for shearing sheep's tails.
"These measures will certainly lead to additional costs," he explained. Sheep farmers and shepherdesses, who already earn little from their animal husbandry, would also be financially burdened. Shearing sheep's tails should not be expected of them, for example, as currently planned, after eight years. Experts and experts assume that for the success of breeding, a duration of at least 15 years is required – this duration should also be granted to farmers and farmers.
- Werner Schwarz, the Agriculture Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, supports the Federal Ministry of Agriculture's plans for implementing video surveillance in Berlin-based slaughterhouses to enhance animal welfare.
- Schwarz believes that video surveillance can help prevent animal suffering in individual businesses and strengthen the credibility of slaughterhouses by providing evidence of their reliable operations.
- The draft law presented by the Federal Government, aiming to amend the Animal Welfare Act, caught Schwarz's attention due to its focus on eradicating illegal animal trading on the internet.
- The CDU politician expressed satisfaction with the provision in the draft law requiring suppliers to disclose their identities in online animal trades, stating that it is a crucial measure in combating the illicit trade of animals raised under poor conditions or sold too young or sick.
- Schwarz, however, identified several concerns with the draft law, such as insufficient time for discussing numerous planned changes and potential additional financial burdens on sheep farmers and shepherdesses, particularly regarding the requirement for shearing sheep's tails after eight years.
- In light of experts' assumptions that breeding success requires a shearing duration of at least 15 years, Schwarz advocates for granting an appropriate duration to farmers and sheep farmers in the proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act.
