Surveillance in Slaughterhouses: Appointment of a New Animal Welfare Officer

Parliamentary State Secretary Silvia Breher Appointed as New Federal Animal Welfare Officer

The federal cabinet has appointed Parliamentary State Secretary Silvia Breher (CDU) as the new Federal Animal Welfare Officer, effective from September 1, 2023. Breher will continue to serve as a state secretary alongside her new role.

Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) proposed Breher as his state secretary as the successor to Ariane Kari, who resigned in early August. Rainer emphasized that the office of the animal welfare officer should be sensibly integrated into existing structures without creating new bureaucracy.

Breher, who hails from a farm in the south Oldenburg district of Kirchdorf Lindern, has a background in law and self-employment as a lawyer from 2000 to 2018. She was also managing director of the local farmers' association from 2011 to 2017. Her study of law and her previous roles in self-employment and local farmers' association management may have contributed to her ties with the agricultural lobby.

The Federal Association of Ecological Food Economy (BÖLW) hopes that Breher will secure more financial resources for better stables and pastures throughout Germany. Breher advocates for practical and affordable animal welfare in stables. She also considers regulations for online trading with animals and genuine backing for animal shelters important.

Animal welfare advocates and the opposition, including the Greens and The Left, have questioned Breher's independence and her close ties to the agricultural lobby in her constituency of Cloppenburg-Vechta. Eight protesting organizations have demanded "Competence instead of networking" in light of Breher's appointment. The region is considered a stronghold of animal husbandry, leading to concerns about Breher's independence.

In response to these concerns, Breher has expressed her intentions to quickly initiate compulsory video surveillance in slaughterhouses. She has also suggested the introduction of an animal welfare levy on meat to fund the necessary funds for the promised animal husbandry labeling, which is set to be introduced in March 2026.

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Interestingly, no animals or organizations have publicly opposed Silvia Breher's appointment as Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner. However, some critics have suggested that a veterinarian or vet would be a better choice for the role.

In conclusion, Breher's appointment as the Federal Animal Welfare Officer raises concerns about her independence due to her ties with the agricultural lobby. However, her practical approach to animal welfare and her intentions to improve regulations and surveillance in the industry offer hope for improved animal welfare standards in Germany.