Evaluating impact on health of animals and plants

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Scope

Does the option have an impact on health of animals and plants?[1]

Definition

Plant and animal health are of basic importance for human health and well being, as both form the basis for the production of human foods and are parts of the natural human environment at the same time. Therefore the aspect of human food safety is closly related to questions about animal feed safety, animal and plant health, biotechnology and its use and agricultural policies in general. The EU aims at heading into the direction of a reduce of production-distorting support and an increased focus on food safety and quality, rural development, and environmental services for society at large. Plant and animal treatment within agricultural use pose significant influence on domesticated animals´ and plants´ health, while EU agricultural policies have a main influence on farming procedurs. Additionally, methods applied in traditional and organic farming show significant differences as well.[1]

In order to protect animals' health and well being, veterinarians, farmers and pet owners use a variety of products. Farm animals and pets alike are subject to a treatment with vaccines, antibiotics, and other pharmaceuticals such as e.g. Antiinfectives, Antimicrobials, Parasiticides (ecto- and endoparasiticides), Pharmacological agents (sedatives, pain killers, etc.), Vaccines, Care products, Nutritional supplements and feed additives.

EU and national regulation regulate the use of medication and additives and safety for animal, humankind and environment is supposed to be examined in every case. But serious accidents still happen out of general ignorance and/or violation of safety regulations, as well as through violation of the precautionary principle. Antibiotics for example, are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals, but at the same time their widespread use poses the reason for concerns about the human health impact of micro organism´s growing antibiotic resistance. Animals raised organically on the other hand, are not allowed to be fed e.g. antibiotics, the bovine human growth hormone (rbGH), or other artificial drugs or genetically modified foods and they usually kept less dense together and in a more natural environment, which is a healthier and more humane method for most breeds.[1]

Anthropogenic pollution can pose serious health risks for animals and plant, both domesticated and wild. In 1996 the Council Directive 96/83/EC (Seveso II Directive) was adopted, which has fully replaced its predecessor, the original Seveso Directive. Important changes have been made and new concepts have been introduced, including a revision and extension of the scope, the introduction of new requirements relating to safety management systems, emergency planning and land-use planning and a reinforcement of the provisions on inspections to be carried out by the EU Member States.

Another risk factor for animals and plants is the growing influence of genetically modified organisms, which poses risks that are yet impossible to calculate. There are two EU Directives and three Regulations on GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Regulation of dissemination aspects is addressed in the "Directive 2001/18 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms" and the "Regulation 1829/2003 on GM food and feed" regulating the placing of food and feed products (containing or consisting of GMOs) on the market and the Directive 90/219/EEC, on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms (GMOs).[1]

Result

Indicators:

There are no Eurostat Structural Indicators directly related to this key question but the following indicator is related to wild animals´ and plants´ health.

According to health aspects of wild animals and plants, an influence is exerted by the amount of protected areas allowing their natural development:

The following Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators are relevant to address the key question:

Population trends of wild farmland birds reveal that the number of farmland bird species has crashed across Europe by more than 30 per cent since 1980. Tree defoliation affects endangered species as well as other species depending on the damaged trees. Relevant indicators which are covered by Eurostat data are:

Through catches outside biological limits fish species get endangered and the number of survivable species decreases. Therefore the following Sustainable Development Indicator might provide a hint on this subject:

Additional Links:

European Environment Agency Indicators

EEA Biodiversity Indicators

The EEA provides a comprehensive overview of numerous indicators on water that are related to the health of animal and plants:

EEA Water Indicators[1]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 JRC: IA TOOLS. Supporting inpact assessment in the European Commission. [1]

This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.