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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.

RegulationESA urges Norway to continue to strengthen welfare controls for laying hens and chickens kept for meat production
May 5, 2025

ESA urges Norway to continue to strengthen welfare controls for laying hens and chickens kept for meat production

Document type: article published by ESA (EFTA Monitoring Authority) Author: Jarle Hetland 
animal husbandry and human-animal relationshipsAnimal healthHealthy cows, happy farmers? Exploring the dynamics of mastitis and farmer well-being
April 30, 2025

Healthy cows, happy farmers? Exploring the dynamics of mastitis and farmer well-being

Document type: scientific article published in Journal of Dairy Science Authors: Lind Nina, Hansson Helena, Emanuelson Ulf, Lagerkvist Carl-Johan Résumé en français (traduction) : Cows in...
EURCAW-Poultry-SFAFarm management and human-animal relationsAnimal welfare assessment and labellingAnimal welfare initiativesHousing and enrichmentEURCAW-Poultry-SFA Newsletter - Edition 11
April 28, 2025

Newsletter EURCAW-Poultry-SFA – Edition 11

Document type: EURCAW-Poultry-SFA Newsletter Author: EURCAW-Poultry-SFA Résumé: In this issue 11 of the EURCAW-Poultry-SFA Newsletter, find the answers to the Questions to EURCAW (Q2E), two...
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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.

Poultry welfare during depopulation visits

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: FRCAW and EURCAW-Poultry-SFA

Animal categories: Poultry

Delivery date: 02/2025

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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/ghqy-aj09

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Document type: Opinion

Animal categories: Pigs

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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?

A Guide on Fish Welfare in Spanish Aquaculture - Volume 4: Welfare of rainbow trout

APROMAR

Published in 2025

Evaluate the well-being of dairy cows!

Animal Welfare Chair

Published in 2025

Species sheet - Everything you need to know about the domestic rabbit!

Animal Welfare Chair

Published in 2025

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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