Document type COPA-COGECA position paper COPA-COGECA
Author : COPA-COGECA
Preview: In advance of the forthcoming revision of animal welfare legislation, Copa and Cogeca would like to share their views on the various areas and issues that will be covered by this legislation. Our aim is to prepare the sector for future challenges while contributing to the work of the European institutions as risk managers in the design of EU regulations. This document will focus solely on rabbit welfare, although there are other technical and economic questions to be addressed in this sector.
The European rabbit sector has experienced several crises in recent decades. These have had repercussions on production, leading the sector to collapse in some Member States. The weakness of the rabbit market severely restricts the economic profiles of farms. The sector has seen a significant decline in the number of rabbit farms in the main producing countries, as well as a trend towards concentration of provision due to the closure of small farms. A sharp drop in rabbit meat consumption, coupled with seasonal demand and forthcoming legislative changes, add to the existing lack of certaintly. However, one thing is certain: without public funding to improve housing, health and farm management, the very survival of the sector is not assured.
Link to the full position paper (8 pages)
Link to the position paper in English
