[Origin and development of the animal welfare law]

Abstract

At July 2, 1969, the Deutsche Bundestag has invited the Bundesregierung to submit a new and comprehensive law for animal welfare. After having removed difficulties with the constitution by completion of the constitution (at 18. March 1971) with animal welfare an outline of a new animal welfare law was presented to the Deutsche Bundestag in September 1971, and at July 24., 1972, the new law came into force. The leading idea of the former right, to protect the animal against pain and suffering has been promoted and extended to the protection of life of the animal simply. The animals protection-position is only allowed to restrict, if there is a reasonable proof coming out from very important common interests. The law prescribes for those, who are holders of animal more duties than in former time; species and needs of animal are to be laid down. To avoid the excavation of prohibition of experiments with animal by many exceptions the principle is introduced to approve respectively to notify experiments with animals before beginning. The amendment of the animal welfare law of August 12, 1986, concerns especially the regulations about experiments with animals, among many other new instructions a commission for ethics has been introduced. New is also, that the importance of animals as fellow-creature is mentioned in the law. The social process of learning in animal welfare is not yet finished, the new animal welfare law has given a contribution for arising a responsibility for ethics in a capable of bearing.