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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.

Animal magazine logo Cognition-emotionsHousing and Enrichment
September 2, 2024

Review: Rethinking environmental enrichment as providing opportunities to acquire information

Document type: Review article published in Animal Auteurs : I. Veissier, C. Lesimple, V. Brunet, L. Aubé, R. Botreau 
Violaine Colson
Animal husbandry and Human-animal relationships Animal Welfare Evaluation and Labelling
September 2, 2024

Attitudes and professional values of veterinarians and veterinary students toward positive welfare states for dairy cattle

Document type Scientific article published in Journal of Dairy Science Authors: M.W. Brunt, D.B. Haley, S.J. LeBlanc, D.F. Kelton 
Violaine Colson
Animal welfare initiatives
August 29, 2024

Agriculture : l’Aveyron renforce la prévention de la maltraitance animale

Document type Article published in Millavois.com Author: Millavois Preview: As part of its actions to promote animal welfare, the Aveyron authorities have introduced a local preventive unit to anticipate situations in livestock farming 
Violaine Colson
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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.

French analysis of EFSA opinion on pig welfare

Document type: Opinion

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

Animal categories: Pigs

Delivery date: 04/2024

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Protection of farmed fish at slaughter

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: FRCAW

Animal categories: Fish

Delivery date: 03/2024

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Characteristics and needs of pigs

Document type Thematic dossier

Requested by: FRCAW

Animal categories: Pigs

Delivery date: 11/2023

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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?

Catch Welfare - The Podcast Launches with Insightful Debut on Crustacean Welfare

Oliver McBride

Published in 2024

Les chiens de protection en estive

Barbara Ducreux and members of the Idele network

Published in 2024

Ruminant breeding and animal welfare

Juliette Ferial, Luc Mirabito, Renée de Crémoux

Published in 2024

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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