The coalition parties of the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed yesterday on the agricultural package announced following the farmers' protests. The law, which will be discussed today in the Bundestag's Agriculture Committee, is intended to bring the desired relief, such as a reduction in bureaucracy and tax relief, as well as strengthening the position of farmers in relation to food retailers. Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, comments:
"The package is a start, but milestones are missing, such as the abolition of the VAT privilege for meat and animal products, in order to finance a restructuring of animal husbandry and open up future prospects for livestock farmers, as proposed by the Commission on the Future of Agriculture and the Borchert Commission. One thing is clear: the traffic light has now made concessions to the farmers.
Further demands from the German Farmers' Association, such as a weakening of the upcoming amendment to the Animal Welfare Act, must therefore be off the table. Not only does the national objective of animal welfare require the amendment of the Animal Welfare Act; it is also a central component of the future viability of agriculture. Clinging doggedly to a broken system at the expense of the animals cannot be in the interests of the many farmers who are prepared to do more in terms of animal welfare and want planning security."
