Protection of animals: calves (amend. Direct. 91/269/EEC)

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development approved, with eight amendments the report by Mr Rosado Fernandes. The Commission proposal concerns minimum standards for space per calf and prohibits the use of individual pens after the age of 8 weeks. The Committee on Agriculture is calling for this to apply to every calf in a group of more than ten calves. It also recommends that 'even after the complete adaptation of the pen for the obligatory group housing, on an exceptional basis, and with certification from a veterinarian, a number of animals may be housed individually on the grounds of animal health or welfare'. The Commission is proposing that the provisions of the directive should apply to all farms from 2008. The Committee however, is specifying that 'holdings which have made the necessary adaptations for group housing before 1 July 1996 and of which the available floor space amounts to at least 1.5m2 per animal must comply with the surface standards referred to... by January 2013 at the latest.' The Committee also specified that each pen be provided with appropriate bedding and with perforated, not solid walls. �