Since the 19th century, special animal welfare regulations have developed in Slovenia and throughout Europe, especially to protect animals from cruelty. Current regulations in Slovenia and the European Union define animals as sentient beings and increasingly take into account their specific needs (animal welfare). The analysis of selected regulations from the European Union and Slovenia shows that the legal status of animals is particularly influenced by the level of awareness of animals and their relationship with humans (animal ownership and wildlife). The European and Slovenian legal systems primarily protect vertebrates, for which recent scientific research confirms a high level of awareness. Legislative concern is also more pronounced for animals in possession (especially farm animals), while stray and wild animals are not sufficiently protected. EU legislation, as well as Slovenian law, imposes mainly active obligations for animals in possession and provides mainly injunctions for wild animals. The Common Agricultural Policy also plays an important role in animal elafare, as it has recently made the granting of individual payments conditional on compliance with minimum standards and provides incentives to improve animal welfare beyond the prescribed standards. Despite the progress, the overview of animal welfare notes the difficulties in enforcing new standards and implementing existing ones, the paradoxical treatment of animals as sentient beings and commodities, and the lack of relevant scientific evidence in the legislation.
|
