Species : Multiple species

Answer from MASA to a parliamentary question from a French Member of Parliament on the revision of European legislation on the welfare and protection of farm animals, which has not as yet delivered all of the expected package, in particular the ban on cages due to be in place by 2027.

Answer to a question on how long it has taken the Commission and EFSA to prepare the revision of European legislation concerning the "End the Cage Age", a revision which was not fully completed in the end.

Scientific paper arguing that animal welfare should be included in the work of the OHHLEP (One Health High Level Expert Panel), and a technical working group should be created to finalize a UN convention on the issue resembling the 2018 UN Convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP). A transdisciplinary approach will be required, encompassing ethical, cultural, social, religious, political, economic and scientific aspects. In addition to veterinarians, experts from other disciplines linked to One Health will need to be consulted, such as specialized lawyers and jurists, representatives of animal rights movements, along withl as specialists in ethicseconomics.

Article on the legal provisions set out in Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) justifying certain trade restrictions on the grounds of respect for animal welfare. The authors point out that the procedures for transporting animals in large numbers do not comply with European legislation. As part of the current review of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 governing the transport of animals within and outside the EU, amendments should be considered to achieve effective animal welfare regulations.

An MEP has questioned the European Commission on the abandonment of its plans to revise animal welfare legislation to include a ban on cage farming. According to a survey, MEPs are being encouraged to resist pressure from NGOs. The MEP questions the European Commission on this subject.

Article describing the environmental challenges of livestock farming, along with its impact on animal welfare and global health. The article underlines the need for farming practices to evolve, with animal health and welfare as key contributors to the sustainability of livestock farming.

Article exploring the origins of the concept of animal welfare in European law, starting with the Maastricht Treaty (1992). The scope of the cross-cutting clause in art. 13 of the TFEU (Lisbon Treaty, 2007) codifying respect for animal welfare in Europe may vary from one member state to another.

Scientific article explaining the risks of conflating the concept of animal welfare with that of sustainable farming.Linking them can blur their differences and may result in misguided agricultural political decision-making.

Scientific article examining the effectiveness of animal welfare regulations on transport in five English-speaking Western jurisdictions. The study's findings show that the regulations fail to achieve the objective of protecting livestock during transport. The article identifies future policy directions that would have greater likelihood of success in meeting this objective.

Article summarising the benefits and potential of precision monitoring technologies (wearable sensors, video observation and smartphones) to increase production and improve welfare in livestock farming.