Subject: Regulations

European Parliament: written answer to question E-003741/2023: Aid for poultry farmers who improve their flocks' environment 

Question: Annika Bruna (ID). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

Reply from the European Commission to a Member of Parliament on the insufficient aid provided for European poultry farmers trying to enrich  the living environment of their animals, and who must face foreign competition due to increased imports of poultry products not subject to European legislation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal trade, Enrichment, Environment, Housing, Restraint equipment, Pollution, Livestock farming system, Transport, Societal issues

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Brief research report: the evolution of animal welfare legislation for pigs in 13 EU member states, 1991-2020

Anna Wallenbeck, Anette Wichman, Lisa Höglind, Sigrid Agenäs, Helena Hansson, Shon Ferguson

Published in 2024

Report mapping the evolution of six key aspects of pig welfare legislation in 13 EU countries over the period 1991-2020, with the key aspects being selected according to their economic impact and international competitiveness in the pig production sector. National legislation in Member States has become more stringent, exceeding EU minimum levels in some countries.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Societal issues

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Animal sentience included in Belgian Constitution

Eurogroup for Animals

Published in 2024

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

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Societal issues

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Bien-être des animaux : quels critères scientifiques pour construire un étiquetage des produits alimentaires ? Rapport de l’Anses

Anses

Published in 2024

News item on an Anses report recommending a harmonized comprehensive food product labelling system using animal-based scientific welfare indicators and also take into account the living conditions of their parents.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Castration, Animal trade, Enrichment, Identification, Housing, Restraint equipment, Living environment, Mutilation, Prenatal issues, Sterilization, Stress, Livestock farming system, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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Evaluate the effectiveness of official controls to protect the welfare of cattle kept for beef production

DG Health, European Commission

Published in 2024

Results of an audit carried out in Belgium in 2023 seeking to assess the effectiveness of official controls relating to the protection of livestock. Although the safeguards provided by animal welfare controls on cattle are satisfactory overall, their effectiveness and consistency are limited as the consequence of weaknesses in the instructions issued and their application, verification and coordination between the competent authorities. The report makes recommendations on areas where improvements are still needed.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Pain, Education, Housing, Abuse, Mutilation

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La douleur et la souffrance des poissons sont-elles suffisamment considérées en aquaculture et pêche ?

Marie-Laure Bégout

Published in 2024

Article following on from the FRCAW report on the slaughter of farmed fish. Ifremer reviews the capacity of fish to feel pain, their legal status, and appropriate slaughter methods. Making pre-slaughter stunning compulsory in France would require investment and an overhaul of the way businesses organize their work, but other countries such as Norway have already done so.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Brain integration, Euthanasia, Experimentation, Pain, Maltreatment, Stress, Societal issues

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°10089 : Garantir une transition pour un élevage sans cage

Question: Mrs Sandra Regol (Ecologist - NUPES - Bas-Rhin). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2024

Response from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to an MP's question on the EU's commitment to ban cage farming.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment

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Mouvements d’équidés vivants

Direction Générale de l'Alimentation (DGAL) and Direction de la Santé et du Bien-être Animal (DSDBEA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (MASA)

Published in 2024

Instruction technique explicitant le cadre réglementaire des mouvements d’équidés vivants transitant par les pays de l’Union européenne.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal trade, Transport

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Notice to services communicating with the public and to advertising companies authorizing the publication of sales offers for dogs, cats and ferrets.

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2024

Notice from the French Ministry notifying providers of communication and advertising services to the public that a system for authorizing the publication of advertisements for dogs, cats and ferrets is now operative. Access to this tool should enable the above providers to comply with regulations.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Canines, Wild animals, Felines

Keywords:Abandonment, Adoption, Animal trade, Abuse

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Animal Rights and Legal Personhood

Ethan Prall

Published in 2024

Synthesis of different views on the moral status of animals, their "fundamental rights" and the relationship between fundamental rights and legal personhood.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Societal issues

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