Keywords: Consciousness

Response from the European Commission to an MEP's question on the welfare of crustaceans at slaughter. The Commission states that it has mandated EFSA to produce an expert opinion on the welfare of certain invertebrates such as decapods. It also refers to the creation, at the beginning of 2024, of the EU Reference Center for Aquatic Animal Welfare.

Analysis of a survey of the general public to assess knowledge and attitudes towards animal welfare during slaughter (including religious slaughter), in 14 culturally and religiously diverse countries. The results suggest that concern for reducing animal suffering during slaughter is a universal human tendency rather than a cultural development. Acceptance of slaughter without prior stunning is linked to local interpretations of religious requirements.

Scientific article providing preliminary data on the effectiveness of a method of stunning edible snails based on immersion in refrigerated water enriched with CO2 intended to avoid the suffering experienced by these invertebrates when slaughtered.

Article announcing the addition of animal sentience to the Belgian Constitution, making Belgium the sixth EU member state to include animals in its Constitution.

Scientific paper showing that electrical stunning causes nerve activity to cease in two crustacean species at both central and peripheral levels. However, cardiac activity continues for over an hour after stunning. Heart rate is not therefore a reliable indicator of the sensitivity of crustaceans or of the effectiveness of stunning.

Report on technologies with the potential to help end the culling of newly hatched male chicks. It identifies the possible risks to welfare posed by their use, and puts forward alternative  ideas and views on the matter.

Answer to a question concerning the position of the French Ministry of Agriculture on the possibility of parliamentary visits to abbatoirs, livestock farms and other facilities where livestock is kept.

Report by the Animal Welfare Institute following a review of federal food inspection documents produced by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) between 2020 and 2022. It assesses the federal government's oversight of the slaughter of farmed birds in the USA.

Scientific review examining the similarities and differences between halal standards in various Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Article summarizing recent research on the mental faculties of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, describing the importance of this work   in better addressing the needs of the above species, and explaining why it had not previously been  arried out.