Discipline: Law

Decree of June 19, 2025 laying down the animal health and protection rules to be met by activities involving domestic pets

Maud Faipoux

Published in 2025

This Order repeals that of April 3, 2014. It reinforces animal health and protection rules for pet-related activities, providing a clear and detailed regulatory framework for the activities of shelters, breeding establishments, educators and traders, taking into account the particular needs of each individual species. Health rules must now be instituted by all establishments. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Canine, Feline, Exotic pets, Birds (excluding poultry), Fish, Rodents

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002054/2025: Fairness in the application of the new European animal welfare rules in the specific context of eastern Europe

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

Published in 2025

Parliamentary question on new EU animal welfare rules that risk penalizing small farms in Eastern Europe. The Commission is planning a proportionate approach that takes account of structural differences, with appropriate financial support. Harmonization is intended to avoid distortions of competitiveness in the single market.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Pigs, 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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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°2263 : Transition hors-cage des systèmes d’élevage des poules pondeuses

Question: Cyrielle Chatelain (Isère (2nd constituency) - Écologiste et Social). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Response from the French Government to a question from a member of the country's National Assembly on the recent rise in the proportion of eggs from caged farms, despite the ban on the creation or extension of such farms since 2018. In its answer, the Government reiterates its support for the gradual phasing out of cages at European level and the actions undertaken in France to support this transition.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-001682/25: Turkish law that allows the killing of roaming dogs and cats

Question: Sebastian Everding (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), Erik Marquardt (Greens/EFA), Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Tomáš Kubín (PfE), Maria Zacharia (NI). Answer: Mrs Kos on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

In response to concerns about the mass slaughter of stray dogs in Turkey, the Commission points out that animal welfare is not regulated at EU level for third countries. However, it supports the actions of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),of which Turkey is a member, to promote international standards on the ethical management of dog populations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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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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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001516/2025: Compliance with the directive on the welfare of pigs

Question : Sebastian Everding (The Left), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA), Günther Sidl (S&D), David Cormand (Greens/EFA), Cristina Guarda (Greens/EFA), Anthony Smith (The Left), Maria Noichl (S&D), Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Sigrid Friis (Renew), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Friedrich Pürner (NI), Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Replying to a question from a group of MEPs on the systematic docking of pig tails, which is widely practised in almost all Member States despite its ban since 1994, the European Commission asserts that its efforts to improve the implementation of this ban continue, via the mutual sharing of good practices, the evaluation of national action plans, and the examination of options for monitoring, including procedures to deal with non-compliance. 

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Porcines

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Implementation of the European directive on pig welfare: A comparative study of four member states

J. Kuenzler, C.S. Vogeler

Published in 2025

Comparative study showing disparities in the application of EU regulations on pig welfare. For example, Denmark and Germany adopt stricter standards than France and Spain, in line with their political and societal priorities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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European Parliament: written answer to question E-001104/25: Management of stray animals in the EU

Question: Nikos Pappas (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

European Commission answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament on the measures it envisages for the management of stray animals in the Member States. No common legislative framework is planned for stray animals other than those kept in shelters, but funding is being put in place via the WHOA regional platform to facilitate the application of international standards.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Europen Commission - Overview report on transport of unweaned calves during long journeys

DG Health - European Commission

Published in 2025

EU Commission report on the practices of Member States while transporting unweaned calves over long distances, highlighting the vulnerability of the latter and the challenges involved in protecting their welfare. It identifies inconsistencies in the application of rules, particularly in terms of categorization, feeding, hydration and the keeping of logbooks. It recommends strengthening official controls and harmonizing practices to better guarantee the welfare of these animals during transport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

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