Skip to main content
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).

Explore the Knowledge Hub
for animal welfare

News

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

IFCESeminars and trainingLivestock management and human-animal relationshipsEthique-sociology-philosophyWorking with animals
September 20, 2023

Vivre et travailler avec les chevaux : Les relations de travail entre humains et chevaux : quels enjeux éthiques et sociétaux ?

Document type: Announcement of symposium co-organized by IFCE Author: IFCE Date and venue: Wednesday, September 27, 9am to 6pm, Théâtre Italien Bouvet Ladubay, Saumur Link...
FRCAW
EFSA logoAnimal husbandry and human-animal relationshipsRegulation
September 14, 2023

Scientific and technical assistance on welfare aspects related to housing and health of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments

Document type: Scientific Opinion published in the EFSA Journal Authors: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Denise Candiani, Julien Drewe, Bj€orn Forkman, Mette S Herskin, Ann Van Soom,Gizella Aboagye,...
FRCAW
EFSA logoAnimal husbandry and human-animal relationshipsRegulation
September 14, 2023

EFSA : Les chats et les chiens ne devraient pas être maintenus en permanence dans des boîtes, des cages ou des caisses

Document type: News bulletin from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Author: EFSA Preview: In order to improve the welfare of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments,...
FRCAW
See all news

FRCAW NEWSLETTER

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

Sign up to receive the newsletterPrevious newsletters

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.

Canine educational practices and tools

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: BBEA/DGAL - French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Animal categories: Dogs

Delivery date: 07/2022

Learn more

Contribution to obligatory health visits in the pig industry, 2023-2024

Document type: Scientific and technical advice

Requested by: DGAL - French Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Animal categories: Pigs

Delivery date: 07/2022

Learn more

Initial survey of the abandonment of dogs and cats in France

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: OCAD Steering Committee (COPIL)

Animal categories: Cats, Dogs

Delivery date: 03/2022

Learn more
View all

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.

Rencontre BEA 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

A method for calculating the external costs of farm animal welfare based on the Welfare Quality® Protocol

Luuk S. M. Vissers, Coen P. A. van Wagenberg, Willy H. M. Baltussen

Scientific paper

Published in 2023

View all documents

Educational resources

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

Animal welfare of farmed fish

Michail Pavlidis

Published in 2023

Période de fortes chaleurs : comment protéger son animal de compagnie ?

Toulouse National Veterinary School

Published in 2023

Tout savoir sur le chien !

Chaire Bien-être animal

Published in 2023

View all documents

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.

Learn more

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