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The German Federal Cabinet (Bundeskabinett) has ratified the regulation proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture to allow farmers to anaesthetise their piglets with isofluorane to effectively eliminate pain during castration.
The castration of piglets without anaesthesia will be forbidden as of January 1st, 2021. The initial date should have been January 1st, 2019, but it was postponed.
To carry out castrations, the farmers shall have passed a competence test that will include a theory and a practical test on animal welfare.
The regulation specifically anticipates that to obtain the competence certificate the farmer will have to be over 18 years of age and have a relevant professional training or relevant studies or professional experience in the treatment of piglets. They shall also carry out a theory course and exam plus practices under the guidance of a competent veterinarian, and the theoretical section will be followed by a practical exam.
The regulation will be sent to the Bundestag and will come into force during the second half of 2019.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2019/ BMEL/ Germany.
https://www.bmel.de
