Animal category: Sheep

Welfare of sheep, cattle, and pigs at control posts during long distance transportation across Europe

Angeloni MG, Padalino B, Ambra CD, Serrapica M, Iavecchia C, Costa LN, Nodari SR, Vecchio D

Published in 2025

Study carried out at an Italian checkpoint (2019-2024) showing that long animal journeys, mainly of sheep from France to Greece, are often associated with welfare problems, particularly in pigs.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Cattle, Sheep, Pigs

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°7146 : Pour un audit de l’ensemble des abattoirs français 

Question: Mr. Aurélien Le Coq (Nord (1st constituency) - La France insoumise - Nouveau Front Populaire). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer from the French Government to a question from a Deputy calling for a national audit of abattoirs following the L214 group's exposure of cruel practices. The government replies that abattoirs are already tightly controlled, with regular inspections, annual audits and reinforced inspection, and is looking into the roll-out of video surveillance despite the constraints involved.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002896/25: Introduction of mirror measures for animal welfare

Question: Anne-Sophie Frigout (PfE), Rody Tolassy (PfE), Angéline Furet (PfE), Valérie Deloge (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from the European Commission to a question from MEPs on how it plans to implement and monitor compliance with binding mirror measures that ensure a level playing field on animal welfare standards between importers of meat and European producers. The Commission responds that its future legislative proposals on animal welfare will include equivalent requirements for imported products, in compliance with WTO obligations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Bovines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001917/2025: Notification by the Netherlands on lowering the maximum temperature for the transport of animals

Question: Claudiu-Richard Târziu (ECR). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Parliamentary question on the Dutch notification to lower the maximum temperature for animal transport to 30°C, which could distort the EU's internal market. The Commission recalls that this issue is addressed in the current revision of the Animal Transport Regulation, and asks Member States to avoid divergent national measures, while taking into account the observations of stakeholders.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Balancing culinary excellence with ethical responsibility: A scientific perspective on animal welfare in gastronomy

Anastasio Argüello, Marta González-Cabrera, Antonio Morales-de la Nuez, Lorenzo E. Hernández-Castellano, Manuel Betancor-Sánchez, Noemí Castro

Published in 2025

Study analyzing animal welfare issues along the full length of the food chain, from breeding and rearing to culinary preparation. It highlights ethical tensions, innovations (lab-grown meat, plant-based alternatives, insects) and regulatory gaps. It proposes a roadmap to integrate animal welfare science into culinary training and promote the sustainable and responsible enjoyment of food.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Crustaceans, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

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Change the world farm by farm: The moral care of audit and the paradox of animal welfare inspection in Europe

Mc Loughlin

Published in 2025

Scientific article noting that European veterinary inspectors face a moral dilemma between official standards and the industrial reality of animal welfare during their inspections. Their power is limited, and they have to arbitrate between compliance, benevolence and systemic constraints.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001752/2025: Prosecution of infringements of the Transport Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations

Question: Marianne Vind (S&D). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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Review - Restricted access to pasture and inadequate grazing in ruminants and equines

Brunet Valentin, Fusi Francesca, Bernardo Tiziano, Canali Elisabetta, Ruet Alice, Faye Bernard, Aubé Lydiane

Published in 2025

Synthesis from EURCAW Ruminants & Equines on the provision of access to pasture, which encourages the expression of natural behaviors and improves the health and well-being of ruminants and equines, notably through enhanced locomotion, enriched social interactions and good quality feed. However, it is not without some risks (animals can suffer from nutritional deficiencies, thermal stress, and locomotory and health disorders such as parasitism), calling for the appropriate management of resources, the environment and animal health.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Ruminants

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Regional Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe - Annual report - 2024

Regional animal welfare platform for Europe / WHOA

Published in 2024

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) European Regional Platform on Animal Welfare, created in 2013, supports all 53 European countries in the progressive implementation of WOAH standards, notably in the realms of transport, slaughter, management of stray dogs, animal welfare during emergencies caused by extreme natural events, and working equines. Since 2024, it has been putting its fourth action plan into operation, which responds to the needs of member countries and the results of an external evaluation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Pigs, Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°5528 : Prise en compte du bien-être animal

Question: Mr. Jean-Michel Brard (Loire-Atlantique (9th district) - Horizons & Indépendants). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from a member of the French Assemblée Nationale who highlights the fact that in food product labelling the issue of animal welfare remains a secondary matter, despite the strong expectations of the public. In its reply, the government states that, for now, it favors a voluntary approach, with no specific labelilng requirements, and that it is supporting research into the best way of displaying information on farming methods.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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