Services
EURCAW-Pigs provides scientific and technical knowledge to Competent Authorities of EU member states and their support bodies, for the official controls on pig welfare requirements laid down in the European pig welfare legislation.
EURCAW-Pigs is still 'under construction'.
In due time, this website will provide the following services:
For detailed understanding of pig welfare issues on-farm, during transport and at slaughter, practical and scientific knowledge is provided:
- EURCAW-Pigs offers easy access to knowledge for Competent Authorities and their support bodies via the email address info.pigs@eurcaw.eu. This service is provided from the launch of the EURCAW-Pigs website;
- EURCAW-Pigs will compile review documents, dossiers and factsheets summarising the latest scientific and practical knowledge for several priority areas. The first dossier (on tail biting and docking) will be published before June 2019. The second dossier (on space allowance and climate control on board transport vehicles) will be published in September 2019;
- EURCAW-Pigs will facilitate access and dialogue with farms, transport companies and abattoirs willing to demonstrate good practices regarding welfare legislation, from January 2020 onwards;
- EURCAW-Pigs will develop a library with a search engine for finding scientific, legal and technical documents on pig welfare issues. The library will open in April 2019 and will increase the number of available items over time.
For verification of compliance with the European pig welfare legislation:
- EURCAW-Pigs will present lists of pig welfare indicators, including animal based, management based and resource based indicators. It will start with indicators selected from the most prioritised welfare areas of pigs. The first lists will be available in June 2019;
- EURCAW-Pigs will suggest iceberg indicators that can be used by official inspectors to obtain a quick overview on possible welfare problems on farm, during transport, and at abattoirs. The iceberg indicators will be available in December 2019.
For further professional training and education:
- EURCAW-Pigs lists training activities and materials used in the Member States. A first list is available in June 2019 and will be updated constantly;
- EURCAW-Pigs presents minimum (quality) standards for training activities on pig welfare in husbandry, transport and slaughter. A report describing standards for training materials will be presented in December 2019;
- EURCAW-Pigs will recommend communication methods for inspectors to handle ambivalence and make changes happen on farm, during transport, and at abattoirs. An overview of knowledge in this area will be available in December 2019.