EuroFAWC.com

Name of organisation

Council of Animal Welfare

Link to website

www.raadvoordierenwelzijn.be or www.conseildubienetreanimal.be

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Scope/Mission statement

The Animal Welfare Council (AWC) advises the Belgian Minister for Public Health on animal welfare topics, at the request of the Minister him/herself, the Animal Welfare Department of the Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment or members of the AWC. The opinions take into account the latest scientific, ethical and social developments.

Short outline of structure

The AWC is composed of maximum 18 members, which are representatives from animal rights orgiansations and other associations defending the interests of producers, breeders, consumers or veterinarians. Also four or five members of the Executive Board are included in the AWC. These latter are experts from universities, known for their work in relation to animal welfare.

Short outline of working methods

The Minister, the Animal Welfare Department or a member of AWC asks the Council for an opinion on a specific subject. This request is scheduled in the agenda of the Executive Board. The AWC appoints a coordinator for the working group and assigns a scientific advisor to the subject. The scientific advisor prepares, in consultation with the coordinator, a scientific report including a scientific literature review, the relevant legislation in other countries, and practical information. The Executive Board assesses the report and delivers a scientific opinion.

The coordinator sets up a working group of maximum 10 representatives from all parties involved. The working group discusses the subject and issues an opinion which has to be submitted successively to the Executive Board and the AWC for adoption. Once adopted, the opinion is sent to the Minister.

Contact details

Animal Welfare Council of Belgium

Federal Public Service Public Health

Victor Hortaplein 40 box 10

B-1060 Brussels

Publications

Tail docking in certain dogs breeds - Discussion on the necessity of tail docking of dog breeds
Tail docking in Belgian draught horses - Discussion on the necessity of tail docking of horses
Animals kept on the pasture - Discussion on the necessity for shelter based on the thermal comfort and comfort zones
Cats in shelters and feral cats - Discussion on the solutions to reduce the number of feral cats and to solve the problem of overpopulation in shelters
Tail docking of sheep - Discussion on the necessity of tail docking of sheep
Housing of laying hens - Assessing the relevance of a supplementary study on establishments keeping laying hens with a (covered) free range area
Keeping raptors by individuals - Discussion on keeping birds of prey in captivity (without regulations)
Slaughter of cattle and sheep - Best slaughter practices and discussion on religious slaughtering
Alternatives to the castration of piglets - Discussion on the alternatives on castration of piglets without anesthetics
The use of electric collars for dogs - Discussion on the use of electric training collars, electric fences, anti-bark collars for dogs
Horses kept outdoors (2010) - Guidelines for keeping horses outside
The import of dogs into Belgium (2010) - Discussion on allowing associations to import dogs from abroad
Integration of the dog in society: socialising dogs (2011) - Recommendations on how to better integrate dogs into society

Working titles of future reports

Housing of rabbits
Fairground horses
Extreme breeding
Dolphins in dolphinaria

Access to publications