The Växjö Declaration: Animal protection and food
Information
The Council of Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MR-FJLS)(1) believes that animals are sentient beings with their own intrinsic value and should be respected as such. The Council stresses the importance of good animal welfare and the need for it to reflect the ethical values of our societies. It also wishes to reiterate the pioneering traditions of the Nordic Region, which are based on deep insight into the links between animal health and animal welfare.
On 16 April 2008, a group of Nordic experts met in Stockholm to review the latest findings on the importance of animal welfare in the production of animal-based foodstuffs. The issue was later discussed further at the MR-FJLS meeting in Växjö on 26 June. The ministers:
- agree that animal-welfare issues are important and that proper animal welfare represents a significant competitive advantage for the Nordic Region;
- will support further research on animal welfare issues, including into the links between good animal welfare and high-quality animal-based foodstuffs;
- believe that, in this context, the word ‘quality’ covers food safety, nutritional value, taste and appearance, as well as ethical considerations and production methods that are environmentally and climatically aware;
- will work more closely together and organise exchanges of information in the Nordic Region to facilitate the drafting of joint positions;
- will stress the importance of the Nordic Region playing an active role in EU/EEA forums and other international bodies in which animal welfare is discussed, e.g. the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Council of Europe.
The ministers calls upon the Committee of Senior Officials on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ÄK-FJLS) to look more closely at the welfare of animals in the food-production process. Nordic consumers expect food production to be based on good animal welfare.
Where appropriate, the ministers will ensure that animal welfare is a significant parameter and is accorded adequate consideration when applications for Nordic project funding are being assessed.
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1 MR-FJLS is one of 11 councils in the Nordic Council of Ministers which is a cooperation between the governments in Denmark, the Faore Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland