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Food Safety

Welfare of calves and dairy cows

About the group

In March 2022, the thematic sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows was established within the EU Platform on Animal Welfare.

The objective of the sub-group is to provide technical expertise and opinions to the Commission on the ways the Union's instruments can be adapted to improve the welfare of calves and dairy cows at farm level.

This includes taking into account the latest scientific evidence, the objective of phasing out calves’ pens, the possibility to adapt welfare rules based on indicators (e.g. milk yield, housing system) that are correlated to animal welfare consequences, and the need to make the legislation enforceable.

The discussion will be of a consultative nature, as part of the Better Regulation consultation process prior to the preparation by the Commission of a legislative proposal revising Directive 2008/119 and Directive 98/58/EC.

The composition of the working group is available in the Register of the Commission expert groups.

Meetings 2023

12 June – Twelfth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

7 February – Eleventh meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

23 January – Tenth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

Meetings 2022

15 December – Ninth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

17 November – Eighth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

17 October – Seventh meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

29 September – Sixth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

14 July – Fifth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

16 June – Fourth meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

20 May – Third meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

28 April – Second meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows

30 March – First meeting of the sub-group on the welfare of calves and dairy cows