{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2008-119/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2008-119/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudr/2008/119",
  "legislation_title": "Council Directive 2008/119/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (Codified version)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2008-119",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Directive 2008/119/EC\nof 18 December 2008\nlaying down minimum standards for the protection of calves\n(Codified version)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nCouncil Directive 91/629/EEC of 19 November 1991 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves has been substantially amended several times. In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Directive should be codified.\n(2)\nMost Member States have ratified the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. The Community has also approved this Convention, by Council Decision 78/923/EEC.\n(3)\nCalves, being live animals, are included in the list of products set out in Annex I to the Treaty.\n(4)\nThe keeping of calves is an integral part of agriculture. It constitutes a source of revenue for part of the agricultural population.\n(5)\nDifferences which may distort conditions of competition interfere with the smooth running of the organisation of the common market in calves and calf products.\n(6)\nThere is therefore a need to establish common minimum standards for the protection of rearing calves or calves for fattening in order to ensure rational development of production.\n(7)\nIt is recognised scientifically that calves should benefit from an environment corresponding to their needs as a herd-living species. For that reason, they should be reared in groups. Calves, both group-housed and individually penned, should have sufficient space for exercise, for contact with other cattle and for normal movements when standing up or lying down.\n(8)\nIt is necessary for official services, producers, consumers and others to be kept informed of developments in this field. The Commission should therefore, on the basis of an opinion from the European Food Safety Authority, pursue actively scientific research into the most efficient stock-farming system(s) from the point of view of the well-being of calves. Provision should accordingly be made for an interim period to enable the Commission to complete this task successfully.\n(9)\nThe measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission.\n(10)\nThis Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law of the Directives set out in Annex II, Part B,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Opinion of 11 December 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ C 324, 30.12.2006, p. 26."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 28."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "See Annex II, Part A."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f5",
      "text": "OJ L 323, 17.11.1978, p. 12."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f6",
      "text": "OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2008/119/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:22:16.905381+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}