What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

72. Emphasises the ecological role of ruminants and the nutritional value of natural meat, and stresses that synthetic food production is greatly dependent on highly industrialised, energy-intensive processes that require significant levels of chemical inputs, which is at odds with the principles of sustainability advocated by the EU; points out that, to date, synthetic food has neither been a viable solution nor a safe alternative to traditional agriculture and livestock production, and that its promotion could endanger thousands of family farms; calls on the Commission to undertake rigorous and independent assessments of synthetic food products as regards health, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, together with consumer protection concerns and impacts on traditional agriculture and livestock production; calls for the existing regulatory frameworks to be clearly focused on protecting consumers, European producers and rural areas;

73. Stresses the essential role of the livestock sector in contributing to food security, job creation, the preservation and promotion of localism, and economic stability across the EU; recognises livestock more broadly not only as a provider of food and environmental services, but also as a driver of social responsibility, decent working conditions and rural development; underlines the importance of the CAP result indicator (I.24) on ‘Contributing to jobs in rural areas’ in focusing attention on the role of livestock farming, especially family-run and small-scale holdings;

74. Stresses that without adequate financing, the sector will become increasingly unattractive to young people, posing a risk not only of job losses but also of a decline in the EU’s nutritional and social competitiveness;

75. Points out the importance of acknowledging and highlighting the fundamental role played by women on livestock farms where, alongside daily farm work, they are often responsible for managing and transmitting knowledge between generations; emphasises, in this regard, that family farming, in which women and the family play a central role, is the backbone of European livestock production and should be supported by specific policies that recognise its economic, social and cultural importance; considers, therefore, that European public policies should include a more effective gender perspective by promoting targeted measures to support women farmers, ensuring equal opportunities, visibility for their contributions and improved access to training, funding and representation in decision-making processes;

76. Stresses the essential role of agriculture and livestock production in providing social benefits to communities in terms of maintaining open space, education, and the provision of care for people with specific needs in the form of on-farm ‘green care’; emphasises the need to maintain agriculture and livestock production in all EU regions, to specifically facilitate these forms of ‘green care’ and to remunerate farmers adequately for their work;

77. Stresses the importance of the mental health and well-being of farmers, and calls for the inclusion of psychological support, administrative simplification and work-life balance measures, as well as measures to combat isolation in future CAP instruments;

Animal diseases

78. Stresses that animal diseases have significant socio-economic, environmental and animal welfare consequences at farm, sub-national, national and regional level; highlights that their impact on livestock production will be further exacerbated by the rise in temperatures, wind speeds and increasingly frequent climate-related extreme weather events within the EU, which must be addressed;

79. Stresses the need for strengthened monitoring and preventive measures to avoid the transmission, within the EU, of animal diseases from both EU and non-EU countries, and calls for a systematic assessment of biosafety vulnerabilities in the EU, with a focus on entry pathways for known and novel diseases;

80. Stresses that, in the EU, any failure to prevent or control animal diseases in one Member State can have immediate repercussions for the others, and requires a coordinated response; highlights, therefore, the importance and cost-effectiveness of prevention, in particular concerning vaccination, early detection and preparedness, appropriate information exchange and coordination between Member States, and economic compensation instruments for livestock farmers who suffer direct and indirect damage as a result of the application of health measures;

81. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide the resources necessary to implement effective and efficient prevention and control programmes, including financial, veterinary, technical and administrative support, and research into the genetic selection of animals with increased resistance to emerging diseases;

82. Stresses the importance of taking timely and effective action to control the spread of animal diseases; calls on the Commission to reinforce a dedicated rapid alert and response mechanism, to be activated in the event of a suspected or confirmed outbreak of animal diseases, in order to ensure real-time exchange of information between national authorities and the Commission on the epidemiological situation, to facilitate the coordination of risk assessment and control measures between Member States and to ensure adequate communication to all relevant stakeholders, in particular farmers and consumers;

83. Welcomes the fact that by 2023, the EU had already reached half of its 2030 target of a 50 % reduction in the sale and use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine in 2023; stresses the need to continue these efforts and to develop an EU-coordinated approach on animal disease prevention and detection with early monitoring, vaccination and biosecurity measures to avoid a rise in animal disease that could undermine the achievement of the antimicrobial reduction target;

84. Stresses the importance of developing advanced diagnostic tools, predictive modelling and decontamination techniques; calls on the Commission to consider further strengthening the EU’s animal health standards to safeguard livestock farming, including provisions for the reduction or exclusion of wild animal populations that pose infectious disease risks and for the targeted vaccination of animals, where necessary, as a complement to responsible selection and breeding of livestock, which can help to reduce the incidence of endemic and emerging diseases;

85. Invites the Commission to recognise the role of, and support, the veterinary medicinal sector in its efforts to bring biotechnologies from the laboratory to the farm, by accelerating and streamlining regulatory processes, financing and upscaling animal health biotechnologies, informing farmers and the general public of their benefits, upskilling and reskilling the workforce, and supporting the collection of data and use of artificial intelligence on farms and in the animal health sector;

86. Calls on the Commission to improve the monitoring and reporting of these costs, both direct and indirect, to increase the effectiveness and speed of EU and Member States support measures; notes, in this respect, that the FAO has developed a new tool, known as OutCosT (OUTbreak COSting Tool), that enables countries to assess the financial burden associated with animal disease outbreaks and measures to control them;

87. Supports the call on the Commission by a group of Member States to adapt the EU’s approach to tackling animal diseases by using vaccination, where possible and depending on the species and diseases, as a preventive measure as part of a broader toolbox;

88. Stresses, however, that vaccination is even more effective when complemented by biosecurity and surveillance measures; emphasises that vaccination measures must be combined with genetic selection programmes for immunological resistance, especially for indigenous breeds and in vulnerable areas, for long-term protection; underlines that efforts in this area must be intensified and supported through accessible and affordable vaccines, biosecurity measures that are appropriately calibrated to the level of risk, and additional and dedicated funding for affected farmers in all Member States under the post-2027 CAP;

89. Underlines the importance of a coordinated approach to animal health that includes proactive investment in research, monitoring systems, vaccine development and curative treatment options to manage both known and emerging diseases; acknowledges the development of ‘DIVA’ (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) vaccines, which enable the distinction between animals which have been infected with a pathogen and those that have been vaccinated against it; calls, therefore, on the Commission to take into account the latest scientific developments and to revise Regulation (EU) 2016/429 with the aim of creating a new health status category called ‘disease-free with vaccination’; calls on the Commission to foster investment in research and development of DIVA vaccines through Horizon Europe and to accelerate their use among farmers;

90. Calls on the Commission to support investment in on-farm biosecurity through increased funding, including outside the CAP; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to strengthen animal health measures in the EU agricultural sector by coordinating the research, joint purchasing, stockpiling and supplying of veterinary vaccines, new antigen and diagnostic reagent and immunological veterinary medicinal products at EU level through a preparedness and early detection mechanism, and by fostering the development of these products within the EU; calls on the Commission to ensure adequate funding for this mechanism;

91. Encourages the establishment of strategic stocks to enable a more rapid response in the event of new epidemics; emphasises the urgent need to establish a centralised and harmonised data banking system for animal vaccinations across the Member States; points out that such a system would enhance traceability, improve disease surveillance, support timely responses to outbreaks and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the EU’s animal health and food safety policies; notes that a comprehensive vaccination data bank would facilitate cross-border cooperation, ensure compliance with EU standards, and provide valuable insights for policy development, research and the sustainable management of livestock health;

92. Supports research into new technologies for inactivating viruses in food products, such as high-pressure processing, which has shown promise as a method for preserving food safety and quality; underlines the importance of specific animal diets and feed formulations in preventing the spread of certain diseases and improving overall animal health and resilience;

93. Urges the Commission and the Member States to support and cooperate with regional authorities, and consult with farmers, on developing and implementing prevention, vaccination and mitigation plans for these diseases, while avoiding the culling of animals as much as possible;

94. Calls for greater collaboration between the EU, industry stakeholders and international partners, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that knowledge is shared to enhance disease management and prevention;

95. Calls on the Commission to increase EU funding for eradication and control schemes in the Member States; recommends establishing comprehensive economic support systems, including compensation schemes that cover the entire supply chain, to ensure that all affected parties, especially livestock farmers, receive adequate assistance; stresses that, in cases of serious animal disease outbreaks that incur significant economic losses, accelerated financial aid must be made available to reduce uncertainty and maintain economic continuity; calls on the Member States to streamline the assessment of support applications, eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers and set clear deadlines for aid disbursement to help farmers better plan and stabilise their operations;

96. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal, in its 2025 CAP simplification and competitiveness package, to boost the CAP’s capacity to provide financial and operational support to farmers affected by natural disasters, adverse climate-related weather events or animal diseases by introducing an additional crisis payment that Member States could mobilise under rural development funds; considers that the future CAP must also actively support farmers’ capacity to cope with the spread of animal diseases and epidemics, especially by providing a substantially larger budget for crisis management tools and the agricultural crisis reserve that can be activated quickly and effectively to support affected farmers;

97. Invites the Member States to complement this initiative by further developing risk management schemes that are suited to crisis situations linked to animal diseases, including by facilitating access to insurance schemes and mutual funds; calls on the Commission to propose the creation of a new European reinsurance instrument that makes it possible to cover risks associated with new epizootics and to ensure that all agricultural holdings have access to insurance contracts to protect against epizootics;

98. Calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of establishing a European animal health fund, to provide rapid and equitable support in the event of disease outbreaks; stresses that in view of the risks posed by various animal diseases it is essential to allocate funds to animal genetic improvement in order to create breeds that are more disease-resistant, thus strengthening the EU’s food security in the face of potential health crises;

99. Urges the Commission to engage with international trading partners to ensure that regionalised trade bans and recognised inactivation treatments, such as cooking and long curing, are accepted, reducing unnecessary economic harm to the EU livestock industry;

100. Urges the Commission to assess the feasibility, in some specific cases, of the ring-fencing mechanism based on biosecurity management and husbandry practices, assessing its applicability in the international context together with the EU’s most reliable trading partners;

101. Urges the Commission to assess the risks arising from the increasing number of wild ungulates and their implications for animal health, public health and biodiversity; considers it necessary, in this regard, to implement horizontal measures aimed at adequately managing this overpopulation;

Trade aspects

102. Underlines that the EU’s livestock sector is particularly vulnerable to diverse external shocks, including health crises, extreme weather events, price volatility and disruptions to supply chains, as well as increasing competition from non-EU countries, the products of which do not always meet the EU’s high environmental, animal welfare, health and food safety standards, which explains the concerns raised by farmers over the lack of reciprocity and unfair global competition; emphasises, therefore, the need to ensure equitable competition conditions on the international market to protect the economic viability of European undertakings and guarantee reciprocal standards in trade agreements; calls, therefore, for the sector’s vulnerability to be taken into account when concluding trade agreements;

103. Calls for the creation of a special instrument within the next multiannual financial framework that would provide targeted support for agricultural sectors, including the livestock sector, that could experience disruptions or require adjustments as a result of the effects of ongoing trade agreements;

104. Points out that, in a context where EU consumption of animal products and meat in particular is – at best – stagnating, but global demand for animal protein is expected to rise, the economic importance of exports and of positioning the EU as a global leader in climate- and animal-friendly agriculture, exporting knowledge, technology and practices for the transition to sustainability to global markets, should be acknowledged while ensuring EU food sovereignty; emphasises that this could boost research, innovation, investment and employment; underlines that, in this context, investment in improved livestock quality and genetic traceability is becoming essential to meet the global demand for animal products of high nutritional value;

105. Regrets the fact that the EU’s ambitious health, animal welfare, environmental and other sustainability standards and objectives are not always reciprocated by our trading partners; insists that EU livestock farmers are therefore not competing on a level playing field with non-EU country producers, either on international markets or on the EU internal market;

106. Notes that, while all food imports placed on the EU market must comply with the relevant and high EU standards relating to the end products, which are applicable irrespective of whether the product is produced domestically or imported, production requirements (referred to as ‘process and production methods’) are usually not imposed on imported products;

107. Insists that, in line with the Commission conclusions on the application of EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products, there is policy space to pursue the application of health, environmental and animal welfare requirements on process and production methods to imported products in a manner compatible with WTO rules; acknowledges that before applying production standards to imports, it is always essential to make a case-by-case assessment, as stated in the Commission report;

108. Calls on the Commission to ensure greater coherence between its trade and sustainability policies by including the reciprocity of environmental, animal health and animal welfare standards at every stage of production through mirror clauses in all negotiated trade agreements, in order to make sure that imported products that do not meet EU standards are not placed on the EU market; calls on the Commission to ensure and strengthen due and strict controls on imports to protect domestic producers and EU consumers;

109. Calls on the Commission to strengthen a well-funded EU promotion policy by increasing its budget for EU agricultural products, including animal-based products, and to ensure continued support for geographical indications in international trade as a key pillar of quality, traceability and rural development; underlines that the livestock sector is responsible for a significant share of European geographical indications, including products such as cheeses, sausages, hams and fresh meats, which are the result of expertise handed down through generations and production methods that are intimately linked to their regions of origin;

110. Emphasises that quality denominations not only showcase producers’ work, but also protect traditional practices, promote the diversity of European gastronomy and help preserve the cultural identity of production sites; underlines, furthermore, the importance of clear and accurate labelling to enhance product traceability and protect consumers from misleading marketing practices, both outside and within the EU, such as the use of ‘European-sounding’ or lookalike names that falsely suggest that products are of EU or local origin or quality;

111. Calls on the Commission to further support farmers in their efforts to comply with EU standards in order to avoid a loss of competitiveness and the subsequent relocation of EU production to non-EU countries with lower animal welfare, production and social standards, and to ensure that producers have access to financing to improve livestock genetics, so that competitiveness is strengthened through quality rather than quantity;

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112. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.