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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.

Poultry Science CoverCognition-emotionsHousing and EnrichmentStructuring and enriching the rearing environment in conventional broiler chicken production: effects on behavioral indicators, emotional states, and cecal microbiota composition
September 1, 2025

Structuring and enriching the rearing environment in conventional broiler chicken production: effects on behavioral indicators, emotional states, and cecal microbiota composition

Document type: scientific article published in Poultry Science Authors: M. Guinebretière, M. Guyard-Nicodème, F. Mocz, L. Calandreau, A. Scheubel, J.P. Moysan, M. Chemaly, A. Keita, L. Warin...
Poultry World website logoAnimal welfare assessment and labellingGeneticsAre higher-welfare systems really too costly or inefficient?
September 1, 2025

Are higher-welfare systems really too costly or inefficient?

Document type: article published in Poultry World Author: Tony Mcdougal 
European Parliament logoRegulationEuropean Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002603/2025: Finland's derogation for mink fur farming and the ban on fur farming throughout the EU
August 29, 2025

Parlement européen : réponse écrite à la question E-002603/2025 : Finland’s derogation for mink fur farming and the ban on fur farming throughout the EU

Document type: reply by the European Commission to Question E-002603/2025 Authors: question : Maria Ohisalo (Verts/ALE). Answer: Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Question...
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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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Impacts of partial or total solid floors on the well-being and behaviour of pigs

Document type: Opinion

Sponsor: CIWF France, Welfarm OABA, LFDA

Animal categories: Pigs

Due date: 11/2024

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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?

New Factsheet: Ensuring Dog and Cat Welfare During Transport - WSAVA

WSASA and WVA

Published in 2025

Multibov: a tool and information sheets for improving the well-being of dairy cows

Barthélémy Malgoyre (Institut de l'Elevage), Béatrice Mounaix (Institut de l'Elevage), Bertrand Fagoo (Institut de l'Elevage), Tanguy Morel (Institut de l'Elevage), Julien Jurquet (Institut de l'Elevage)

Published in 2025

Thermal stress in cattle: Understanding it better to adapt

Christophe Capy (Réussir)

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