the Federal government and the Länder want to check the animal protection in the case of longer transports in Non-EU countries. “With a Central database, the Federal government will assist in the controls of the countries,” said Federal agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) at the conclusion of the conference of agriculture Ministers. It is about digital platforms, which, for example, consideration should be given to whether travel books are plausible. Klöckner announced that it plans to let the transport of Animals from the years 2017 and 2018 in Turkey to investigate where it may be too hot for the animals might have been.

The long-distance transportation of animals in some cases, at least the occasion for discussions, the Minister said. It is important to also consider, if better seeds are to be delivered. The Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of economy, Volker Wissing (FDP) said as host of the conference, animal welfare should not make the EU borders. “We want our rules to be complied with and monitored.” Wissing admitted that it is not easy to control in Non-EU countries such as Morocco or the Ukraine, whether Standards are met.

The Hessen environment Minister Priska Hinz (Green) for the certified inspection bodies for the transport of Animals in Non-EU countries, such as Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. “We need a system of control, that can lead to fines,” she said.

the Federal government and the Länder for a lump-sum reduction of the Düngeausfuhr

In a dispute with the EU over stricter fertilizer rules the Federation and the Länder agreed on a common Position. “The Federal government and the Länder want to in the fertiliser application Ordinance tailor-made solutions instead of flat-rate reduction”, said Klöckner. “If Brussels insists on 20 percent, that is neither tangible nor professionally.” Now, however, only “effect the same measures have to be developed”.

It’s a measure announced by the Federal government after a ruling by the European court of justice, already to the beginning of the year: The Düngeausfuhr is to be reduced in nitrate contaminated areas for each crop by 20 percent. Some fear that this could lead in some regions to under-nutrition of plants. Also, Wissing said, the Federal government and the States wanted to differentiated measures.

In Germany are many of the measuring the EU-exceeded-wide limit values for nitrate in groundwater. Therefore, it is only since 2017 applicable fertilizer rules need to be tightened up more. At the beginning of the year, the Federal government, while proposals that went to EU environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella, but not far enough.