Discipline: Ethics

Instruction technique : Avenant – Modalités d’attribution et de mobilisation de la dotation budgétaire de trois millions d’euros dédiée à la stérilisation des chats errants par les collectivités territoriales et inscrite dans la loi de finances pour l’année 2024

Animal Welfare Office DGAL/SDSBEA

Published in 2025

Technical instruction extending the deadline for the spending of grants allocated in 2024 for the sterilization of stray and domestic cats by local authorities.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Felines

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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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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°3207 : Abandons d’animaux, obligation d’identification et stérilisation

Question: Aurélien Dutremble (RN). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from an Assembly member to the French government on  overcrowding in shelters and the rise  in animal abandonment. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty lists the animal protection measures it is bringing into force through a dedicated plan. The plan aims to prevent abandonment, improve the management of stray animals and increase penalties for non-compliance, while bringing funding streams and interministerial cooperation to bear.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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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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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-002928/2024: Protection of hunting dogs in Spain

Question: Maria Ohisalo (Greens/EFA). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer to a question on whether future European legislation on dogs and cats will include measures to prevent the traditional abuse of and cruelty towards Spanish hunting dogs at the end of the hunting season.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Canine

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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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Guide to Good Practice: Welfare at Slaughter

BMPA

Published in 2015

Updated Guide to Good Practice: Welfare at Slaughter, which provides advice on how to improve the treatment of animals at slaughter, complementing UK and EU legislation. The guide is intended for food industry professionals.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Category of animals: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Education, Euthanasia

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Evaluating animal consciousness: An emerging field shows how animal feelings can be studied scientifically

Kristin Andrews, Jonathan Birch, Jeff Sebo

Published in 2025

Article summarizing recent scientific findings on animal consciousness. Although studies on bees, cuttlefish and fish point to signs of consciousness, the latter's acceptance as evidence would have major implications for neuroscience and animal welfare. Meanwhile, the lack of a unified theory or precise definition of animal consciousness complicates its  assessment.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Cognitive processes

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The Treatment of Farmed Fish under EU Law

Alice Di Concetto, Anatole Poinsot, Wasseem Emam, Carlos Vera

Published in 2025

Summary of European legislation on aquaculture, mainly on farmed fish. Although the public has become aware of the issue of welfare in aquaculture, the European legislators have yet to pass a new law. This article summarizes current EU legislation, including voluntary standards developed in certain countries.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Societal issues, Livestock farming system

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