Animal Welfare Council (Tierschutzrat TSR) at the Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit BMG)
Website
http://www.bmg.gv.at/cms/site/standard.html?channel=CH0803&doc=CMS1206011579898
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Scope:
According to Austrian Federal Animal Protection Act (Tierschutzgesetz TSchG) 2004/2007 (BGBl. I Nr. 118/2004, amendments BGBI. I Nr. 54/2007 and BGBl. I Nr. 80/2010) Art. 42 the TSR deals with all animals, but the main focus is on vertebrates, especially husbandry, housing, handling, transport, slaughter and killing (euthanasia) of farm animals, pet animals, hobby and sport animals and wild animals (in zoos and in homes). Definitely excluded from that law are hunting and fishery. Those fields are regulated by province law and their state of the art is defined by tradition and put down by the rules of the respective organizations.
Mission statement:
Advisory service to the federal minister of health, which in Austria is responsible for the federal competences in animal welfare (legislation).
Short outline of structure:
According Art. 42 para. (2) TSchG 2010 the TSR consists of 22 members entitled to vote and the chairman without voting power. Members are partly directly named by the law and partly nominated by organisations and appointed by the minister. Members represent stakeholders, i.e. interest groups (NGOs), ministries involved (of Health and of Agriculture), Chamber of commerce, Chamber of veterinarians, Chamber of Labour, Chamber of Agriculture, as well as science (3 Universities, Umbrella- Zoo- Organisation, 1 Federal Research Institute) and the 9 Animal Welfare Ombudsmen (one of each Austrian province).
Short outline of working methods:
At least two meetings per year. Every member can pose a problem to be discussed on the agenda of a meeting if requested at least three weeks in advance. Decisions are made by absolute majority of the members present. More complex problems or questions are delegated to one of six permanent working groups (1) protection of farm animals, (2) animal welfare at commercial trading of animals, (3) protection of sport-, hobby- and pet animals, (4) protection of wild animals and animals in zoos, (5) protection of animals at transport and (6) general advancement of animal welfare, or to an “ad hoc- working group” which then works out a draft opinion on a specific topic. A public version (with no names) of the minutes of the meetings are published on the website as well as yearly reports.
Contact details:
Prof. Dr. Helmut Bartussek (chairman)
Vorsitzender des Tierschutzrates
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, Abteilung II/B/6
Radetzkystraße 2
1030 Wien
Austria
Telephone : +43 664 8312910
Email: helmut.bartussek@bmg.gv.at
Publications:
Public versions (with no names) of the minutes of the meetings of the Austrian Animal Welfare Council as well as yearly reports are published on the website: http://www.bmg.gv.at/home/Schwerpunkte/Tiergesundheit/Tierschutz/Tierschutzrat_/Protokolle_der-Sitzungen_des_Tierschutzrates
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