Animal welfare in the EU
The European Commission is committed to improving animal welfare and living conditions for animals across the EU.
This is a shared responsibility between the Commission and EU member states. The Commission proposes legislation – using scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – and helps national governments implement it. EU legislation lays down minimum standards, but governments may adopt more stringent rules.
Among the principles enshrined in EU law is that animals are sentient beings that can feel and have emotions.
EU rules reflect the so-called 'Five Freedoms': freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.
Concerns shared by EU citizens
A 2023 Eurobarometer survey – Attitudes of Europeans towards animal welfare found that:
- 84% of Europeans believe the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected
- 83% support limiting the transport time of animals
- 74% support better protection of the welfare of pet animals in their country
- 90% consider that farming and breeding practices should meet basic ethical requirements
Survey shows how important animal welfare is for Europeans – press release
Revision of EU animal-welfare rules
The Commission has started a wide review to update the EU’s legislation on animal welfare, in line with modern standards.
In the 2025 Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Commission committed to engage closely with farmers, the food supply chain and civil society, to further revise existing EU animal welfare legislation, including the phasing-out of cages.
The Commission will also pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of animal-welfare standards applied to imported animals and food.
Dogs and cats – welfare and traceability
In 2023, the Commission proposed new rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. The rules would:
- establish uniform EU standards for their care, housing, and handling in breeding establishments, pet shops and shelters
- introduce strict traceability requirements, especially for online sales, to combat illegal trade and ensure healthier pets
- mandate training for animal handlers and inform buyers about responsible ownership.
Imports of dogs and cats from outside the EU would also need to meet equivalent welfare standards.
Protection of animals during transport
The Commission is working to ensure that animals are transported under conditions that respect their welfare. EU legislation sets clear rules for all actors involved in the transport of live animals, including journey planning, vehicle standards and animal fitness.
In 2023, the Commission:
- adopted new rules for livestock vessels, requiring onboard veterinarians and better inspection systems
- proposed updated legislation to improve animal welfare during long journeys and extreme temperatures – reflecting scientific evidence and public expectations.
The goal is to make transport safer, more humane and better enforced across the EU.
Animal welfare on farms
The Commission has launched preparatory work on a revision of EU’s on-farm welfare legislation, in line with the Vision on Agriculture.
In September 2025, a 12-week public consultation about on-farm animal welfare for certain animals, was launched to gather the views of farmers, citizens, businesses, national and regional authorities, NGOs and other interested parties on the revision of the EU legislation.
A call for evidence regarding on-farm animal welfare received more than 700 responses in summer 2025. The Commission is also carrying out wide scale consultations to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of changes to the EU rules for welfare on farms.
The Commission is also looking into follow up actions in response to the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "End the Cage Age".
Farming of animals for fur
In 2023, a European Citizens Initiative (ECI) titled 'Fur Free Europe’ requested that the Commission take action to prohibit two main practices:
- keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production
- placement of farmed animal fur, and products containing such fur, on the EU market
The Commission will communicate in 2026 if it considers appropriate to propose a ban, after a transition period.
See also: Cat and Dog Fur
Animal welfare at slaughter
The EU legislation on the killing of animals aims to minimise the pain and suffering of animals through the use of properly approved stunning methods. It applies to farmed animals.
Since 2013, rules in this area have been covered by Council Regulation 1099/2009 – protection of animals at time of killing.
In 2018, Annexes I and II to this regulation were amended by Regulation 2018/723 – approval of low atmospheric pressure stunning to reflect a favourable opinion of the European Food Safety Authority on this form of stunning’s use for broiler chickens.
Legislation before 2023
- Regulation 1/2005 – protection of animals during transport and related operations
- Lisbon Treaty, Article 13 – welfare requirements of animals (2016)
- Directive 98/58/EC – protection of animals kept for farming
- Decision 78/923/EEC – European Convention for protection of animals kept for farming
- European Convention for protection of animals kept for farming – principles and implementation (1976)