Political solutions required
The German Farmers' Association (DBV), the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG), the German Raiffeisen Association (DRV), the food retailers involved in the Animal Welfare Initiative and the Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW) address the new federal government. The organizations are calling for a sustainable political solution to the conflicting goals between climate protection, pollution control and animal welfare through a clear and sustained commitment by politicians to animal welfare. In this context, they call on politicians to enable new and rebuilding stables across the board and to remove construction and immission law hurdles. In the coalition agreement of the Ampel coalition it says “We want to significantly reduce emissions from ammonia and methane while taking animal welfare into account. The farmers should be supported on the way to climate neutrality within the framework of the conversion of livestock husbandry. ”DBV, ZDG, DRV and the food retailers in the ITW are urgently calling for this support from agriculture. Because agriculture must not be crushed in the conflict of goals between climate protection and animal welfare.
“Consumers, society and market partners are demanding more animal welfare, and farmers want to implement that,” explains Bernhard Krüsken, General Secretary of the German Farmers' Association (DBV). “As part of the ITW, over 10.000 farmers are already committed to improving animal welfare. Politicians must finally adapt the framework so that these developments can continue. Building and immission control law must be adapted, permits for new stables or conversions must be issued faster and less bureaucratic. This is where the traffic light coalition is challenged and responsible. A clear commitment to animal welfare is required. "
"The poultry industry is in the starting blocks," adds Stefan Teepker, ZDG Vice President and Chairman of the Federal Association of Farmers' Chicken Producers. “But we need the possibility of implementing stables with outdoor climate contact on a broad basis. To do this, hurdles under immission law must disappear. If that is what society wants, the poultry farmers are ready, but politics must deliver now. "
"The cooperative companies want to continue on the path towards more animal welfare," emphasizes the managing director of the German Raiffeisen Association (DRV), Dr. Henning Ehlers. “We're not starting from scratch here. In order to continue, however, the farms need planning security - especially when it comes to the financing of new animal welfare stalls. Here, too, politicians must show their colors as soon as possible. "
"The food retail trade has created a system that enables consumers to quickly find their way around when shopping," explains Franz-Martin Rausch from the Federal Association of the German Grocery Trade (BVLH). "By this we want to be measured. However, so that we can also offer more goods in the higher levels 3 and 4, politicians must remove the hurdles for producers. We can only develop our product ranges further if there is demand for the goods on the one hand, but if on the other hand they can be produced in the first place. Stables with an outside climate must be made possible at all times. Politicians urgently need to take action here. "
"The Tierwohl Initiative is Germany's largest platform for animal welfare solutions along the entire value chain," explains Robert Römer, ITW. “We are ready to work together in dialogue with politicians to develop sustainable solutions that can survive across the market. For this we need a clear commitment from politicians to want to work hand in hand with business. It is essential to avoid cannibalization effects between government solutions and the broad-based engagement of business. We all urgently need planning security and offer politicians a dialogue with the ITW and their active support in the further development of animal welfare in Germany and Europe. "
About the Initiative animal welfare
With the Tierwohl (ITW) initiative launched in 2015, the partners from agriculture, the meat industry, food retail and gastronomy commit themselves to their joint responsibility for animal husbandry, animal health and animal welfare in livestock husbandry. The animal welfare initiative supports farmers in implementing measures for the welfare of their livestock that go beyond the legal standards. The implementation of these measures is monitored across the board by the Animal Welfare Initiative. The Animal Welfare Initiative's product seal only identifies products that come from animals from participating companies in the Animal Welfare Initiative. The animal welfare initiative is gradually establishing more animal welfare on a broad basis and is continuously being further developed in the process. www.initiative-tierwohl.de
