While most Maltese people believe that protecting the welfare of farmed animals is important, many know nothing about local farming conditions, according to a recent Eurobarometer study.
The study, entitled Attitudes of EU citizens towards Animal Welfare, examined various factors: the importance of animal welfare in the public mind, knowledge of animal welfare, perceptions of national welfare standards, impact of higher animal welfare standards on producers and consumer shopping habits and labelling.
Cyprus had the highest rating, with 9.1 out of 10 of respondents saying that protection of animal welfare is important.
Sweden followed closely with a rating of 9.0, with Finland coming third with 8.7.
Malta ranked fourth, with Maltese people giving the protection of animal welfare on farms a rating of 8.7 out of 10.
However, many Maltese and Spanish said they know nothing at all about farming conditions. Almost half of the Spanish population (49 per cent), and 45 per cent of the Maltese, said they had no knowledge about such conditions in their country.
Another 51 per cent of the Maltese said they knew something about it, while 66 per cent said they would like to be more informed.
Almost 70 per cent of EU citizens claimed to have some know-ledge of the farming conditions in their country and six out of every 10 EU citizens say they would like to receive more information about such conditions.
Around half the citizens of the EU (51 per cent) said they would like to receive more information about farming through television, while people of a younger age group said that they would use the internet.
The majority of Maltese respondents (73 per cent) said they believe that the welfare protection of farmed animals has improved in the last 10 years, while another 83 per cent said it still needs to be improved further.
Ninety per cent of the Maltese said that farmers should be given compensation for the higher costs that could result from greater welfare standards.
The study said consumers are most likely to buy animal-friendly products because they are seen as healthier and of higher quality.
In fact, over 40 per cent of EU citizens said that the products are healthier because they are derived from healthier animals.
However, only 29 per cent of Maltese respondents said that information about animal welfare was easily available on products.
Sixty-two per cent of EU respondents said they would be willing to change their shopping habits to buy animal-friendly
products.
Cyprus ranked first (83 per cent), closely followed by Greece (82 per cent) with respondents claiming they are ready to change the place they shop, while Malta ranked seventh with 69 per cent of respondents saying they would do so.