Discipline: Zoology

Souffrance à Vendre - Shrimp welfare in European supermarkets

ICAW (International Council for Animal Welfare)

Published in 2025

Report on the growing awareness of the need to protect shrimp welfare  in Europe, responding to both ethical questions and growing consumer demand, and supported by the scientific recognition of this crustacean's sentience. Progress is being made, with several distributors abandoning the use of eyestalk ablation and adopting electric stunning before slaughter.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories:Crustaceans

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question E-001998/2025: Animals confined in unspeakable conditions in Malta

Question: Lara Magoni (ECR). Answer: Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from the Commission to a question from an MEP on the discovery in Malta of lions and a panther being kept under unfit conditions, revealing serious breaches of the European regulations on animal welfare. In its answer, the Commission states that Member States must apply the Zoos Directive and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation, and that it is looking into ways to strengthen its legislation to prevent such abuse.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Wildlife, Felines

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Assessing the Welfare of Spiny Lobsters and True Lobsters in Aquaria: Biology-Informed Best-Practice Guidelines for Captive Conditions

Fruscella L., Elwood R.W., Passantino A.

Published in 2025

Study assessing the welfare of spiny lobster and true lobster in captivity, highlighting the gaps between their biological and behavioral needs and current commercial practices. It recommends appropriate housing conditions (separation and appropriate stocking density, provision of shelter, claws should not be tied, no direct light, monitoring for water quality) to improve their health and welfare..

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Crustaceans

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Biology, husbandry systems and farm practices for American mink, red and Arctic foxes, raccoon dog and chinchilla kept for fur production - EFSA

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Maria Díez-León, Sabine Dippel, Sandra Edwards, Angela Schwarzer, Denise Candiani, Michaela Hempen, Eliana Lima, Claudia Millán Caravaca, Neil J. Tirchett, Yves Van der Stede, Marika Vitali, Mette S. Herskin

Published in 2025

EFSA technical report updating its 2001 analysis of the welfare of animals bred for their fur (mink, fox, raccoon dog, chinchilla), incorporating recent data on these animals' biology and the production cycles and farming methods used.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Mammals

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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, NAC, Birds (excluding poultry), Fish, Rodents

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Welfare of American mink, red and Arctic foxes, raccoon dog and chinchilla kept for fur production - EFSA

EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)

Published in 2025

Recent scientific opinion from the EFSA, identifying the main welfare risks to animals bred for their fur (mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas), which are mainly associated with lives spent in cages without enrichment, resulting in restricted movement, stress and behavioral disorders.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Mammals

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Establishment of a list of non-domestic animal species that may be kept for companionship and pleasure, and definition of "conservation breeding".

Céline Couderc-Obert (IGEDD), Catherine Lhote (IGEDD), Philippe Steinmetz (CGAAER)

Published in 2025

Methodology report for drawing up a list of non-domestic species authorized to be kept without formalities for companionship or approval, for which the CGAAER and IGEDD were mobilized.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Wildlife, other small companion animals

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Review: Exploring correctness, usefulness, and feasibility of potential physiological operational welfare indicators for farmed insects to establish research priorities

M.G. Johnson, M. Barrett

Published in 2025

Study evaluating the correctness, usefulness and feasibility of physiological and somatic indicators currently used to assess welfare in vertebrates for the assessment of insect welfare, taking into account their particular biological characteristics. It proposes a priority list of indicators for validation in insect welfare research, allowing the welfare of farmed insects to be assessed in a reliable, useful and feasible  way.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Insects

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Animal welfare risks from commercial practices involving cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans

Browning H, Burn C, Schnell AK, Crump A, Birch J.

Published in 2025

Article updating a 2021 study. It proposes practical improvements that can be made to the welfare of cephalopods and crustaceans, and identifies research priorities as a guide for good practice.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Crustaceans, Mollusks

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A comparison of attitudes towards animal welfare between British and Japanese zoo visitors: Where and when do cultural differences diverge?

Yumi Yamanashi , Yuko IkkataiMoe Honjo, Nahoko Tokuyama, Rie Akami, Duncan Andrew Wilson, Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith

Published in 2025

Scientific study of British and Japanese visitors' attitudes towards animal welfare in zoos, feeding with live prey and trust in managers: both groups are generally concerned about welfare, but the Japanese base their judgments more on basic needs, while the British emphasize the environmental stimulation provided and the animals' emotions and cognitive abilities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

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