Plaid MEP Jill Evans has won on important issues during a vote in Brussels on a review of the EU's Animal Welfare Action Plan.

The all-Wales MEP welcomed the decision by the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee to approve the review subject to a series of amendments tabled by Ms Evans.

MEPs have been evaluating the implementation of the EU Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006 - 2010 and the report will be instrumental in setting out the EU's approach to animal welfare issues in the coming years.

Ms Evans tabled a series of amendments which:

* Strengthen animal welfare;

* Call for financial support for farmers to help them meet the costs of EU standards;

* Would require imports to meet EU animal welfare standards;

Speaking from Brussels after the vote, Ms Evans said:

"It's time to bring EU animal welfare legislation up to date with one clear and comprehensive piece of legislation. I'm very pleased that MEPs backed calls for that, and for the establishment of a new European animal welfare centre.

"This is a good result for farmers and for animal welfare in the long term. I'm particularly pleased that MEPs recognised the need to help farmers to meet EU standards on animal welfare. I'm hopeful that the Commission will respond positively to this with clear funding proposals."

Ms Evans commented:

"It's also very important that we impose the same high quality standards on animal imports to the EU that we expect our own farmers to comply with. I'm also glad that the committee supported a trade ban on eggs not complying with current laws."

The issue will now be put to a vote of the full European Parliament later this year.

Diwedd/End.