Frequently Asked Questions

The FRCAW is the body designated by the French Ministry of Agriculture to provide technical expertise and to contribute to the dissemination of research and innovation in the field of animal welfare in France.

For further details on the governance and operation of the FRCAW and the duties of each participating member within this framework, please go to the "Governance" section.

The FRCAW brings together bodies specialising in research, development and training under a five-year agreement. It currently has no legal identity.

Its operation is funded by the French Ministry of Agriculture.

Only French organisations and bodies (public, private or voluntary) may request assistance from the FRCAW.
The FRCAW's mission is to provide responses to requests that serve the collective interest.
The request sponsor must make a formal request for expert services in writing to the Steering Committee of the FRCAW.

Several European Union Member States have established national reference centres on animal welfare (Italy, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark...). Part of the FRCAW's remit is act as a member of the European network of National Reference Centres (NRCs).

• The European Union Platform on Animal Welfare

The European Platform on Animal Welfare brings together 75 stakeholder representatives (animal welfare non-profit associations, scientific bodies, representatives of EU Member States and the EEA (European Economic Area) countries, international organisations and EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)) to pool their experience and contribute to the improvement of animal welfare.

Further information: https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/eu-platform-animal-welfare_en

• France's Animal Welfare Strategy 2016-2020

In 2016 the French Ministry of Agriculture decided to adopt a national strategy on animal welfare developed in partnership with the professional and voluntary sectors.

This strategy is a French Ministry of Agriculture Horizon 2020 initiative on the theme of animal welfare that aims to place animal welfare at the heart of sustainable practice. The creation of the FRCAW forms part of this strategy.

Further information (in French): https://agriculture.gouv.fr/2016-2020-une-strategie-globale-pour-le-bien-etre-des-animaux-en-france

• The animal welfare expert group of CNOPSAV, the French national committee for animal and plant health.

CNOPSAV acts as an advisory body to the French Ministry of Agriculture on health policies. Within CNOPSAV, an expert subgroup on animal welfare issues has been created with members drawn from the scientific, professional and voluntary sectors. The majority of the FRCAW partners are members of the CNOPSAV expert group.

• The National Abattoir Ethics Committee of the French National Food Council

The National Abattoir Ethics Committee (CNEAb) is a consultative body of the French National Food Council (CNA), created in January 2017.

Its mission is to provide a central forum for discussion of developments in legislation and regulations relating to animal welfare in abattoirs.

More info at: https://cna-alimentation.fr/groupes-de-concertations-et-travaux/

• Animal Welfare Council (Belgium)

The Belgian Animal Welfare Council is a public body responsible for providing opinions on issues and challenges related to animal welfare in the Brussels urban area.

Further information (in French): http://www.environnement.brussels/thematiques/bien-etre-animal/conseil-du-bien-etre-animal-une-nouvelle-instance-regionale

• Animal Welfare Portal of Wallonia (Belgium)

The Walloon Animal Welfare Portal is an online information tool to provide the public with information on animal welfare legislation and news in Wallonia. It is managed by Wallonia's government services.

• Animal Welfare Centre (Paris)

The Animal Welfare Centre in Paris is a private organisation offering dog grooming services and training for companion animals.

Only species kept by humans: farm animals, companion animals, wildlife in captivity

The FRCAW 's remit covers terrestrial and aquatic animals kept or bred for food production, domestic animal species and captive wildlife.

The work of the FRCAW covers the rearing (including the breeding of stock for semen production and terminal crosses and hatcheries), transport and slaughter phases of animal husbandry.

The FRCAW produces documents of the following types: 

• Decision-making documents
• Responses to requests for expertise
• Outputs from the working groups
• Topic-based documents produced by one or more members of the FRCAW team
• Documents intended for public consumption produced outside the framework of the FRCAW

These documents are drawn up and distributed in compliance with the rules of ethics and scientific integrity set out in the national charter of ethics for research professions.

Decision-making documents, unless a decision to publish is agreed by a majority vote of the Steering Committee, are not intended for public distribution but are archived. They remain at the disposal of the Animal Protection Office of the Ministry in accordance with the agreed obligations of the FRCAW.

The concept of welfare may seem subjective and open to a variety of interpretations. There is, however, a scientific consensus that is followed by the FRCAW in its work:

"The welfare of an animal is its positive mental and physical state as related to the fulfilment of its physiological and behavioural needs in addition to its expectations. This state can vary depending on the animal's perception of the situation."

Source: Anses, 2018. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/anses-proposes-definition-animal-welfare-and-sets-foundation-its-research-and-expert