Federal Constitutional Court threatens cruel conditions in pig farming: Animal welfare organizations appeal to the Higher Court

Federal Constitutional Court threatens cruel conditions in pig farming: Animal welfare organizations appeal to the Higher Court

Federal Constitutional Court should not let pigs down

On Thursday, August 1, animal welfare organizations presented around 35,000 signatures to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The appeal is aimed at the highest German court to check the cruel conditions in pig farming for constitutionality. The signatories are concerned that the Berlin Senate could withdraw its test application.

The question of whether the usual system of pig farming in Germany is compatible with the Basic Law and the state goal of animal protection contained therein has long been concerned with animal rights activists and experts. Five years ago, the state of Berlin had submitted an application to the Federal Constitutional Court to review certain regulations of the animal welfare authority preservation regulation. In particular, the focus was on the long fixation of sows in box stalls.

The current Berlin Senate has announced that it may be withdrawing the application, which endangers the procedure. Mahi Klosterhalfen, President of the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, sees this critically: "The application has the potential to name and end routine cruelty to animals. If in animal husbandry there is violating our values, animal husbandry has to change. Neither the application nor the animals, but solely the agricultural lobby."

The animal welfare organizations appeal to Prof. Dr. Stephan Harbarth, the President of the Federal Constitutional Court, to check the application if there is a "public interest" in the facts. More than 35,000 people have already signed the appeal and showed their support.

The Albert Schweitzer Foundation handed over the signatures on August 1, the day on which animal protection was included in the Basic Law 22 years ago. The foundation is committed to factory farming and is committed to a vegan lifestyle. It uses legal center and affects actors from business and politics to increase animal welfare standards and reduce the consumption of animal products.

The pork keeping in Germany has long been criticized. High stocking density, insufficient employment material and box maintenance are just a few of the problems. Animal rights activists hope that the Federal Constitutional Court will come to a similar judgment as in the cage of “laying hens”.

The minimum requirements for pig farming should be reduced in the future, but the transition periods of eight years in the deck area and 15 years in the fuel area are too long from the perspective of animal rights activists.

The application also affects other questions, such as the attitude to full column floors or the cutting out of the striped tails without anesthesia. The animal welfare organizations are calling for a general change in the keeping conditions.

The Federal Constitutional Court is now faced with the important decision as to whether it wants to let the pigs down in agriculture or who want to work for animal welfare.