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 resources
from the FRCAW

News

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

RegulationWorking animals Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°12538 : Échéance 2028 d’interdiction de la détention d’animaux sauvages dans des cirques
31 March 2026

Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°12538 : Échéance 2028 d’interdiction de la détention d’animaux sauvages dans des cirques

Document type: to Question No. 12538 published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on the National Assembly’s website on March 17, 2026 Authors:
RegulationWorking animals National Assembly: Written response to Question No. 12372: Ending the use of wild animals in film productions
31 March 2026

Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°12372 : Fin de l’exploitation des animaux sauvages pour les tournages de cinéma

Document type: to Question No. 12372 published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on the National Assembly’s website on March 17, 2026 Authors: :…
Initiatives to Promote Animal WelfareHousing and EnrichmentOne WelfareEnvironmental Enrichment in Aquaculture: Linking Welfare Goals to Practical Application
31 March 2026

Environmental Enrichment in Aquaculture: Linking Welfare Goals to Practical Application

Document type: scientific synthesis published in Reviews in Aquaculture on March 18, 2026 Authors: O. Spiliopoulos, S. Kadri, M. Sinclair, M. Vanderzwalmen, C. Brown Abstract in French (translation): Enrichment…
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 newsletterDownload the latest newsletter
Access previous 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.

Online guide for selecting a depopulation method in the event of avian influenza

Document type: Opinion

Requested by: FRCAW and EURCAW-Poultry-SFA

Animal categories: Poultry

Delivery date: 10/2025

DOI: 10.17180/6amz-r692

Learn more

Waiting area for goat kids before slaughter: case study 

Document type: Opinion

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

Animal categories: Goats

Delivery date: 09/2025

Learn more

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/fyn3-af38

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.

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

View all documents

Educational resources

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

Le comportement des taurillons en engraissement

Idele

Published in 2026

Knowledge pill: How long can they stand?

EURCAW-Poultry-SFA

Published in 2025

Group housing of calves

EURCAW Ruminants & Equines

Published in 2025

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