Facilitating practical arrangements for post-mortem inspection in low-capacity establishments

FOUR PAWS welcomes the ECs efforts to support the viability of local slaughterhouses. Decentralised systems can reduce transport times, stress for animals, and contribute to lowering the spread of infectious diseases by avoiding highly concentrated production and long transport chains. Ensuring local capacity is therefore critical for both animal welfare and biosecurity resilience.

UECBV supports the Commissions efforts to facilitate inspections through the integration of data generated by computer-based technologies. UECBV also encourages further progress in this area, for example by extending the use of computer-based technologies to a broader range of applications, such as animal welfare controls, while ensuring the economic and practical sustainability of the meat industry.

Pilgrims Europe supports the proposed amendment to Article 11 and 12 to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 to introduce computer-based technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections. Incorporating advanced digital tools into the ante-mortem and post-mortem process represents a significant step forward to modernise food safety systems.

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) supports the modernisation of official controls under Regulation (EU) 2019/627, including the use of remote inspection, digital tools, and increased operational flexibility. However, these changes must not weaken the effectiveness, independence, or reliability of meat inspection systems, which are fundamental to public health, animal health, and animal welfare.

The German Animal Welfare Association (Deutsche Tierschutzbund) is critical of the planned increase in the threshold at which low-capacity farms are considered to be low-capacity farms. In principle, this threshold should be expressed as a relatively low, fixed number and not as a percentage.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

Croatian veterinary chamber as the member of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and its sections EVERI, UEVH and UEVP representa around 3,000 veterinarians in Croatia which aims to enhance animal health, animal welfare, and public health and to protect the environment by promoting the veterinary profession.

FNOVI – Federazione Nazione Ordini dei Veterinari Italiane expresses its concerns about the proposed amendment to Regulation (EC) No 2019.627; the activities envisaged in carrying out the ante- and post-mortem inspection are the exclusive responsibility of the veterinary surgeon’s profession.

Filed in Italian · English published by the European Commission

The Federal Chamber of Veterinarians (Bundestierärztekammer – BTK) welcomes in principle the European Commission’s efforts to take into account and legally enshrine modern digital technologies, including video applications and artificial intelligence processes, to support official controls in the area of ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

Dear Sir/Madam, The Austrian Federation of Farmers’ Direct Marketing Organisations supports the proposed amendments. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure a comprehensive supply of physical veterinarians, an increase in flexibility while using up-to-date technological methods is to be welcomed.

Filed in German · English published by the European Commission

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and its sections EASVO, EVERI, UEVH and UEVP represent around 330,000 veterinarians across 38 European countries aims to enhance animal health, animal welfare, and public health and to protect the environment by promoting the veterinary profession.

RVAN is of the opinion that remote AMI should not become the default. RVAN does not believe that OAs can simply replace OVs. RVAN thinks that certain low-risk situations can be managed safely with appropriate procedures and escalation criteria. RVAN is of the opinion that the biggest unresolved issue is what information must reach the OV and when.

The draft amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/627 (document PLAN.2026.713) adds identical provisions to Articles 11 and 12 on the possibility to use data generated by an AI-based computer system during a health inspection (Article 11 ante-mortem inspection, Article 12 post-mortem inspection). The proposed text foresees that the operator (and owner) of such a computer system will be the food business operator.

Filed in Czech · English published by the European Commission

Copa-Cogeca supports the proposed amendments in principle, as they bring useful flexibility and can help address staff shortages while maintaining safety standards. We welcome the use of remote inspection, trained inspection staff, and new technologies, provided these are properly validated, supervised, and implemented with clear safeguards.

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the European Commission efforts to ensure the availability of local slaughterhouses, particularly where they can contribute to reduced transport distances and the associated welfare risks.

The Spanish General Council of Veterinarians recognises the objectives pursued by the Commission in seeking to improve the flexibility and sustainability of official controls. However, the successful implementation of the proposal will depend on ensuring that digital technologies and remote inspection arrangements strengthen, rather than replace, effective veterinary oversight.