ABSTRACT
Promotion of animal welfare has progressively made its way into European Union (EU) policy and law and, as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon amendments, is an EU stated value enshrined within the Treaty itself. After outlining the evolution of EU law and policy on animal welfare, this chapter addresses the question of the significance and impact of the mainstreaming provision in Article 13 Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The chapter discusses the public morality argument that has been raised successfully, in relation to animal welfare. The significance of the EU animal strategy 2012–2015 rests with the anticipated adoption of a Framework Law that will address horizontally protection concerns, distortions of competition and monitoring of compliance. While the Union is trying to simplify and consolidate the animal welfare acquis, there has been at the international level an important recognition of animal welfare as a relevant justification for restrictive trade measures aimed at protecting public morality.
