Full column floors will be banned in Austria from 2034 – Diepresse.com

The coalition has agreed on a draft law for a transition period for the ban on full column floors in pig farming. A new regulation in May was already planned in the government program of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS. Because the The Constitutional Court had lifted the transition period provided in the old draft until 2040. A new draft was needed until June 1, 2025. This is now available and provides for a shortening of the transition period to 2034.

The corresponding amendment to the Animal Welfare Act (TSchG) is « a broad compromise that will be decided in parliament next week and is to come into force on time on June 1, 2025, » said a joint broadcast of Ministry of Health and Agriculture on Thursday.

Further develop animal welfare standards

There are further stages in the new design until the ban occurs. At the end of 2026 the research project « Ibest+ » will be completed, « to further develop animal welfare standards on a scientific basis. » Agriculture Minister Norbert Tettschnig (ÖVP) described the regulation “as a viable and constitutional compromise.

« From 2027, a scientific basis will be worked on on a new minimum standard, from 2029 there will be initial improvements in existing stables, and from 2034 the attitude ends on full column soils-with a factually justified exception for around 170 hardship cases », according to the state secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) responsible for consumer protection and health. For these companies that invested in new stables between June 2018 and December 2022, an individual transition period of 16 years is therefore planned.

Criticism and praise

Criticism of the planned amendment comes on the part of the Greens. Just before the deadline, « a Murks will be presented, which will be more vulnerable again due to far too long transition periods and a new legal minimum standard from 2027 is no longer a question, » criticized Olga Voglauer, agricultural spokeswoman for the Greens. In the old version of the transition periods it was stipulated that a new legal minimum standard had to be developed by 2027, which would have been considered for all pig conditions from 2040. As for the minimum standards, Voglauer criticized that it is completely unclear, « from when existing pig cakes have to correspond. The deadline for this has not been brought forward, but deleted.

There was praise from the farmers’ association president and ÖVP National Councilor Georg Strasser: « This agreement brings clarity and shows that animal welfare and sustainable economic conditions can be reconciled. » Due to the VfGH judgment, from June 1, 2029, it is necessary to take measures in the density of stocking and in the employment material.

Chamber of Agriculture President Josef Moosbrugger urged him to risk no further delays. « The tomorrow’s health committee and the parliamentary plenum next week must therefore take the necessary decisions, it has long been five to twelve. » He also called for an expansion of the mandatory designation of origin. The Greens have already introduced proposals for identification of origin in gastronomy, but also for animal husbandry marking in parliament, and these will also be discussed in the health committee on Friday.

« Incredible »

The association against animal factories (VGT) described the draft as « incredible » in a broadcast. In the new version, the passage is missing « that all pig content from 1.1.2040 has to correspond to the new minimum standard (with straw). Without this sentence, all pig content from 1 June 2039 must correspond to the ridiculous new version of the full column floor without straw. The expiry date for the full column floor at 23 years from the first time has been removed. » (APA)