(1)

The EC-Chile Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures applicable to trade in animals and animal products, plants, plant products and other goods and animal welfare (hereafter referred to as the Agreement) includes, given the importance of animal welfare and its relation with veterinary matters, the aim of developing animal welfare standards and to examine such standards taking into account the development in the competent international standards organisations. As per Appendix IC to the Agreement, it shall apply in particular to the development of animal welfare standards concerning the stunning and slaughter of animals.

(2)

The specific working group on animal welfare established by the Agreement’s Joint Management Committee concluded in order to better achieve its objectives, it would be helpful to exchange information on scientific expertise and to establish active contacts between scientists from the two Parties.

(3)

An international seminar on animal welfare is being organised in Santiago, Chile, in November 2004 by the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture and the Delegation of the European Commission to Chile to assist with the Agreement’s objective on reaching a common understanding between the Parties concerning animal welfare standards.

(4)

Pursuant to Decision 90/424/EEC the Community is to undertake the technical and scientific measures necessary for the development of Community veterinary legislation and for the development of veterinary education or training.

(5)

In line with the Community’s obligation to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals in formulating and implementing the Community’s policies, and the Agreement’s aim of reaching a common understanding between the Parties concerning animal welfare standards for the protection of animals, it is appropriate that the Community should support the organisation of this seminar, the outcome of which will assist in the further development of Community veterinary legislation and veterinary education or training on this issue.

(6)

With a view to the further development of veterinary education or training in the field of animal welfare, it is appropriate that the Community should assist with communicating and disseminating the outcome of the seminar, including covering the costs of the publication and dissemination of the scientific proceedings of the seminar, to be organised in the framework of an open call for offers.

(7)

It is appropriate that the disbursement of such financial support should be coordinated by the Delegation of the European Commission to Chile, one of the joint organisers of the seminar.

(8)

The financial resources necessary for the Community to support the organisation of this seminar should therefore be engaged and granted subject to the planned seminar having been efficiently carried out.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,