Eurogroup welcomes this important milestone for animal welfare while expressing serious concerns over latest forecasts provided by the European Commission in December 2012. These show that only 16 of the 27 EU Member States are expected to be fully compliant with the legislation, whereas 11 other Member States, despite the generous 12 years phase-out period they had been given to comply with the legislation, still do not guarantee minimal legal requirements for the protection of sows and gilts.

The European Commission already announced it will launch infraction procedures against non-compliant Member States after 1 January 2013. These are very likely to be included in the January infringements package to be published on 24 January 2013.

Further details of inspections will be provided at a meeting on 28 January, gathering stakeholders and representatives from the European Commission and Member States.

Eurogroup is closely monitoring the implementation of this law and urges Member States to act now to ensure that the provisions of the pigs directive are respected throughout the EU.