Animal category: All animals

Animal welfare definitions, frameworks, and assessment tools: Advancing the measurement and laying the foundation for improved animal welfare through a three-step approach

van der Staay FJ, Goerlich VC, Meijboom FL, Arndt SS.

Published in 2025

This overview summarizes the three steps involved in developing animal welfare assessment tools: arriving at a shared definition of welfare, establishing theoretical and ethical frameworks, and  designing validated tools.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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La cognition, pierre angulaire des émotions et du bien-être des animaux

A. Boissy

Published in 2025

Article exploring the emotional and cognitive skills of animals, their consciousness and the affects of their psychological activity in order to arrive at the concept of animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Relevance of state-behaviour feedbacks for animal welfare

Montalcini, C.M., Driver, C.C. and Mendl, M.T.

Published in 2025

Scientific review exploring the dynamic interactions between an animal's state (health, emotions) and behavior. These create positive or negative feedback loops that impact animal welfare. The authors propose adjustment strategies that favor positive affective states. The use of dynamic models incorporating longitudinal data is recommended to improve understanding and achieve sustainable improvements in animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Les clauses-miroirs : quels moyens d’imposer certaines normes européennes de bien-être animal aux importations de produits agricoles et alimentaires ?

Loïc Evain, Marie-Hélène Le Henaff

Published in 2025

Report from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty stating that the Conseil général de l'alimentation, de l'agriculture et des espaces ruraux (CGAAER) is overseeing analysis of the possibility of imposing European standards on agricultural imports, particularly in terms of animal welfare, and adapting international rules.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

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Financements régionaux et transition de l'élevage : quels leviers pour des modèles plus durables ?

CIWF France

Published in 2025

CIWF report on the lack of ambition for animal welfare and the agro-ecological transition in French regional policy making.  To transform livestock farming, the report considers it essential to incorporate strict criteria, improve sustainable practices and join up  public policies at all levels.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: All animals

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Developments in Chinese Attitudes to Animal Welfare

Clive J. C. Phillips

Published in 2025

Review describing the evolution of Chinese attitudes to animal welfare. Despite low levels of government commitment, interest in animal welfare science is growing in China, particularly the use of technology and remote sensing.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Rethinking Animal Welfare in a Globalised World: Cultural Perspectives, Challenges, and Future Directions

Oxley Heaney, S.; Szydlowski, M.; Hill, K.; Hooper, J.

Published in 2025

Sociological review considering the challenges to the welfare of humans and non-human animals that arise from cultural, political and social boundaries. A trans-species approach is key to understanding and managing these complex relationships in the Anthropocene era.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

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Translating Ethical Principles into Law, Regulations and Workable Animal Welfare Practices

David J. Mellor, Mette Uldahl

Published in 2025

Philosophical commentary on changes in animal welfare laws. These reflect the shift in ethical approaches from the prevention of abuse to a duty of care towards animals. A four-level legal framework and a four-step assessment process make it possible to integrate explicit ethical principles into animal welfare management.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

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The fragmented landscape of animal welfare legislation in the European Union

Eurogroup for Animals

Published in 2025

Study of the extent to which animal welfare is taken into account in legislation in the 27 EU Member States. Many controversial practices persist in certain countries, such as cage farming, force-feeding and the absence of protection for certain species. EU-wide harmonization of legislation is essential to guarantee uniform high standards.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

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Recent Developments in EU Animal Law and Policy - 2019-2024 in Review

Animal Law Europe

Published in 2025

Summary of advances in EU animal law, with an initial review covering 2019-2024.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

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