Alarm level red for animal welfare: Austria's animals in great danger!

Alarm level red for animal welfare: Austria's animals in great danger!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - alarm level red for animal welfare in Austria! A recently leaked government agreement between the FPÖ and the ÖVP shows that significant progress for the well -being of the animals are left behind. The required improvements in animal husbandry are not only in danger, at best they are inadequate, while serious grievances such as the cruel animal transports and the use of full column floors are not ignored. According to Martin Aschauer from "Tierschutz Austria", the intended government program is a "bankruptcy declaration to the next generation". This missed chance has potentially dramatic effects on the climate, animal welfare and biodiversity.

Missing improvements in the Animal Welfare Act

The punctured document reveals that an independent Ministry of Environment and Animal Welfare is not in prospect. Specific measures for cooperation in improving livestock farming are completely absent, while at the same time the animal welfare level is to be adjusted to the lowest EU standards. These setbacks, combined with the impending Mercosur Agreement, which massively undermine animal rights, are alarming and reflect a clear lack of serious commitment, as show negative experiences in Germany and Switzerland. There, animal welfare organizations have significantly more influence through animal experimental commissions and can submit formal complaints to check the approval of animal experiments, which is not the case in Austria. As a result, animal welfare issues in our neighboring country are taken into account considerably more, while Austria falls back in the old days.

In order to advance animal welfare, "Animal Welfare Austria" absolutely calls for a national action plan for herbal food in order to reduce environmental impact on animal husbandry and to promote healthier eating habits. Animal rights activists also face considerable restrictions on their work - for example due to possible punishments for reconnaissance, which uncover grievances in animal husbandry. While Austria is considered the land of animal -loving people, these developments show a worrying picture. The animal rights activists appeal to the public to fight for improvements under the initiative "Es-Envy" and to draw attention to grievances that are not adequately addressed by the planned government measures.