About Animal Welfare
Animal Welfare is a priority for the European Union. Over the past 40 years, EU animal welfare legislation has evolved on the basis of sound scientific knowledge, improving the quality of animals' lives in accordance with citizens' expectations and market demands.
Extensive training for veterinarians
More than 2.000 veterinarians received training on animal welfare from a European Commission Programme.
To ensure that animal welfare legislation is enforced in a uniform way across the EU, the European Commission has, since 2006, funded training initiatives and workshops for professionals both within and outside the EU. It also means that food produced in the EU is of high quality, so benefiting consumer's health while meeting animal welfare needs.
Better life for sows and laying hens
360 million laying hens and 12 million sows benefit from a better quality of life.
In 2012 an EU ban on conventional cages for laying hens entered into force. They now have more space with a nest, perches and litter, all of which are necessary to satisfy their behavioural needs. There is substantial evidence that their health and welfare has since considerably improved.
More respect for the behavioural needs of pigs leads to better quality pig meat, an area where the EU is a major producer and exporter.
Until the end of 2012, pregnant sows were spending their life in barren individual cages where behavioural needs were not respected.
To improve their life, the EU adopted specific legislation which in January 2013 phased out the use of individual stalls. Sows are now kept in groups during pregnancy. This is a milestone for the welfare of these very social animals. They are now able to move around freely and are provided with suitable nesting material which makes for happier sows.
No animal testing for cosmetic purposes
Since 2009 no testing for cosmetics purposes has been carried out in the EU.
Animal testing for finished cosmetic products was banned in 2004 and for cosmetic ingredients in March 2009. Since March 2013 no cosmetics tested on animals can be marketed in the EU.
Major improvements in animal transport
The overall quality of animal transport has improved and the number of animals transported with injury or exhaustion significantly decreased.
Around 4 million cattle, 28 million pigs, 4 million sheep, around 243 million poultry and 150 thousand horses are transported for more than 8 hours within the EU every year. It is essential that this is done with the utmost care and attention.
Rules for improving animal welfare during transport in Europe were first implemented in 1977 and were subject to major revision in 2005.
Enforcement of the legal provisions remains an EU priority and since 2013 data on the application of the law by Member States are harmonised.
Better training for safer food programme – regional workshops
The "Better Training for Safer Food Programme" (BTSF) organised regional workshops for public officials in Canada, Chile and South Korea dedicated to improving application of EU standards.
Improvement of animal welfare standards constitutes an added value to trade as well as an opportunity to improve livestock production and sustainable farming. So far 237 participants have attended from more than 30 countries.
The Commission is continuously strengthening bilateral technical cooperation on animal welfare with its main trading partners Chile, Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, South Korea and a Memorandum of Understanding for technical cooperation was recently agreed with Brazil.
The European Commission, in close co-operation with the Member States is actively involved in the work of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), consistently supporting the work of developing guidelines on animal welfare.