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French Reference Centre for Animal Welfare logo

Bringing together experts in research, development and training
to support animal welfare

The French Reference Centre for Animal Welfare brings together experts in research, development and training in order to enhance and disseminate knowledge, innovations and know-how and to facilitate the integration of animal welfare in the design of sustainable farming systems (farm animals, pets, captive wildlife). Its establishment was one of the major actions in France's strategy for Animal Welfare (2016-2020).

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News

Discover the scientific, technical and regulatory news on animal welfare selected by the FRCAW's experts.

Animals magazine logo                                RegulationTransport, Slaughter, Pick-upImpacts of Reduced Stocking Density on Broiler Welfare During Transport: Evidence from a Hungarian Study Under Moderate Climatic Conditions
November 3, 2025

Impacts of Reduced Stocking Density on Broiler Welfare During Transport: Evidence from a Hungarian Study Under Moderate Climatic Conditions

Document type: scientific article published in Animals Authors: László Szőllősi, Dániel Fróna, Laura Mihály-Karnai, Attila Csorbai Résumé en français (traduction) : Impacts de la réduction de la...
Seminars and trainingAnimal welfare assessment and labelingMaster in Animal Welfare Assessment
October 29, 2025

Master in Animal Welfare Assessment

Document type: announcement of a new Master's program published by the University of Aarhus Author: Aarhus University
European Commission logoRegulationAnimal welfare policy indicators
October 26, 2025

Animal welfare policy indicators

Document type: article published on the European Commission's website Author: European Commission Extrait en français (traduction) : Indicateurs de prise en compte du bien-être animalCreated...
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FRCAW NEWSLETTER

Free monthly newsletter containing a selection of the latest news on animal welfare picked out by experts from the FRCAW

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Scientific and technical expertise: formal reports, opinions etc.

The chief mission of the FRCAW is to provide scientific and technical expert advice to government, associated sectors, societies and any other actor involved in the keeping of animals, on matters concerning animal protection and the welfare of animals dependent on humans.

Cat housing surface area and welfare 

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: Animal Welfare Office/DGAL - French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Animal categories: Cats

Delivery date: 09/2024

DOI: 10.17180/fyn3-af38

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Thermal stress during cattle transport

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: Animal Welfare Office/DGAL - French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Animal categories: Cattle

Delivery date: 02/2025

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Thermal stress during pig transport

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: Animal Welfare Office/DGAL - French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Animal categories: Pigs

Delivery date: 02/2025

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Knowledge Hub

Articles, opinions, books, summaries, good practice guides, regulations and certifications are among the hundreds of reference documents on animal welfare available on this platform.

The Industry Benchmark on Decapod Crustacean Welfare

Crustacean Compassion

Regulation/Certification

Published in 2024

Rencontre animal welfare au Salon International de l’Agriculture 2023 : Révision de la réglementation sur le bien-être animal : des initiatives françaises à porter à l’Europe – présentations des intervenants

FRCAW

Published in 2023

Renouvellement de la convention-cadre du Centre national de référence pour le bien-être animal

INRAE

Published in 2023

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Educational resources

Do you need resources to design animal welfare training courses?
Do you want to train yourself in animal welfare?

Behavioral manifestations of pain in cattle

Animal Welfare Chair

Published in 2025

Learning the signs of pain in sheep

Animal Welfare Chair

Published in 2025

Improving animal welfare is always a constraint for breeders, TRUE or FALSE?

Animal Welfare Chair

Published in 2023

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Animal welfare: what is it ?

An animal's well-being, its state of mind, its needs, expectations and emotions are the key elements of animal welfare that concern the FRCAW, based on the expert definition produced by the Anses in 2018.

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What we do

The FRCAW provides collective expertise, pulling together key scientific and technical evidence to support public authorities and economic and social actors in order to improve the account taken of the welfare of animals under human control (farm animals, pets, captive wildlife).

About usOur activities

The French Observatory for the Protection of Domestic Carnivores (OCAD)

FRCAW is OCAD's expert advisory body. It responds to queries from the OCAD Steering Committee, using all information available via open access or supplied by OCAD members, and referring in particular to the I-CAD database.

Learn moreOCAD's work