VGT takes Agriculture Minister Totschnig at his word: “Animal welfare is the highest priority for the Ministry of Agriculture,” he writes to citizens
Vienna (OTS) – There are only a few weeks left to repair the provisions banning fully slatted floors in pig farming that were repealed by the Constitutional Court (VfGH). The ÖVP appears to be refusing to significantly shorten the transition period until 2040, which the VfGH objected to. In addition, in the part of the Animal Protection Act that was also removed by the VfGH, there was also a transition period of 23 years for those pig farms that have newly installed a fully slatted floor. Here too, the ÖVP is likely to insist that this will not be changed. And this despite the fact that Agriculture Minister Totschnig tells citizens who ask him to ban fully slatted floors that animal welfare is his top priority.
In addition, VGT chairman DDr. Martin Balluch: “The highest priority for animal welfare is undoubtedly to replace the fully slatted floor in pig fattening with straw as soon as possible. Why then does Minister Totschnig refuse to do this? The excuse that consumers first have to buy pork from straw farming does not count. As long as the pig industry advertises its industrial meat from fully slatted concrete floors as being of high quality and the Ministry of Agriculture convinces consumers that Austria is a pioneer in pig protection, people cannot be blamed for reaching for the cheapest.
We need comprehensive husbandry labeling and honest meat advertising. Then a real ban on fully slatted floors would be just as successful as the ban on cages for laying hens.
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Today the VGT protested against the fully slatted floor before the press conference by Agriculture Minister Totschnig and the ÖVP in Strass in the Zillertal. Also Science Minister Polaschek, the Tyrolean Governor Mattle and the State Councilor Geisler, who clearly Regulations that violate EU law who are deliberately trying to exterminate wolves were present.
Press photos (Copyright: VGT.at)
Questions & Contact:
VGT – ASSOCIATION AGAINST ANIMAL FACTORIES
DDr. Martin Balluch
Campaign management
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