Considerations on the sphere of application of European Union animal protection legislation for horses.

The research article mainly discusses the scope and application of European Union (EU) animal protection laws for horses, highlighting a gap in legislation that excludes horses not involved in commercial activities.

Overview of the Research

• The research basically focuses on the legislation related to animal welfare in the European Union, particularly for horses.
• It traces how increasing consumer awareness about animal welfare has resulted in the formulation of laws protecting production animals throughout the food chain process.
• The study denotes that the purpose of the horse (be it commercial/economic or otherwise), rather than its final purpose (whether it’s meant for human consumption or not), determines the extent of application of EU animal welfare regulations.

Partial Application of Legislation to Horses

• Horses are kept for a variety of reasons – as farm animals, companion animals, or for commercial purposes.
• The research points out that the current EU regulations related to horse protection only partially apply. The nature of the activity the horse is used for essentially determines the application of the law.
• Therefore, the legislation becomes inconsistent because it is based on the purpose of the horse’s usage rather than the welfare of the horse itself.

Commercial Activity as a Determining Factor

• A key aspect underlined in the research is that even if the horses are not kept specifically for food production, they are still covered by the EU laws, if they are bred or transported as part of a commercial activity.
• Essentially, the application of EU laws is strongly correlated with the involvement of commercial activity.

National Laws for non-commercial Horses

• For horses kept for non-commercial purposes or activities outside the commercial framework, the protective laws that apply are those set by national authorities.
• Thus, although EU laws fail to fully protect all horses, national laws in various European countries serve to fill this gap, providing welfare regulations for equines in non-commercial settings.