Protection of animals kept for farming purposes

OBJECTIVE: to lay down minimum standards for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals for farming purposes. SUBSTANCE: The directive lays down minimum standards for the protection of animals bred or kept for farming purposes and provides a legal basis for adopting any proposal or recommendation necessary for the uniform application of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. The directive states that the Member States must make provision to ensure: -that the owners or keepers of animals ensure their welfare and they are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury; -that the conditions under which animals are bred or kept, having regard to their species and to their degree of development, adaptation and domestication, and to their physiological and ethological needs, comply with the provisions set out in the annex to the directive (inspection, record keeping, freedom of movement, buildings and accommodation, animals not kept in buildings, automatic or mechanical equipment, feed, water and other substances, mutilations and breeding procedures); -inspections are to be carried out by the competent authority and a report submitted to the Commission; veterinary experts from the Commission may, together with the competent authorities, verify that the Member States are complying with the requirements. The Member States may maintain or apply stricter provisions than those laid down in the directive. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 08/08/1998 DEATH LINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 31/12/1999 �