Subject: Regulations

European Parliament: Answer to Question E-000939/2025: Legislative initiatives and minimum standards for the use of horses in sport

Question: Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA), Sebastian Everding (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from the European Commission to a parliamentary question on animal welfare in equestrian sports, asking whether it intends to introduce legislation to penalize the Abuse of horses in sport. The Commission considers this to be a matter for national legislation. At this juncture, it has no plans to extend Directive 98/58/EC to equines used in sport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

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Financements régionaux et transition de l'élevage : quels leviers pour des modèles plus durables ?

CIWF France, JimL

Published in 2025

Report on the uses to which funding from the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) is put by certain French Regional authorities. The study, which focuses on capital and set-up grants, highlights the levers available regionally to support the transition to more sustainable forms of livestock farming that respect animal welfare.

Document Types: Technical review

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

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Instruction technique DGAL/SDSBEA/2025-254 du 14-04-2025 : Certificat d'engagement et de connaissance délivré avant acquisition d'un animal de compagnie

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Update to the DGAL technical instruction of 14/11/2022, invoving changes to the content of the compulsory certificate of commitment and knowledge that must now be issued prior to the acquisition of a pet.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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Animal welfare during transport: Update on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005

European Parliamentary Research Service

Published in 2025

European Parliament study assessing the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on animal transport, revealing  continued compliance problems, particularly for vulnerable animals. It recommends that regulatory definitions should be clarified, while inspections and data recording should be harmonised to improve the effectiveness of the legislation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

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

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European Parliament: Answer to Question E-001189/25: Access to open air areas for young organic poultry

Question: Christine Singer (Renew). Answer: Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

European parliamentary question on the need for flexibility and practical solutions in responding to the the requirement for young organic poultry to be given access to outdoor areas, so that animal welfare needs and structural or health constraints can be reconciled. The Commission reminds the deputy that Regulation (EU) 2018/848 provides for continuous outdoor access for at least one-third of a bird's life, sets minimum surface areas for modular areas and provides for transitional periods in which to adapt facilities.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse à la question n°126 : Budget alloué aux associations pour la stérilisation des chats errants

Question: Mr Karl Olive (Yvelines (12th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a French Deputy to the government on how the law on stray cats should be implemented and what local councillors need to do to gain access to the funding earmarked to deal with the problem of stray cats, in particular through sterilization.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Felines

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The Protection of Selectively Bred and Gene Edited Farm Animals under EU Law

Ilaria Cimadori, Alice Di Concetto, Khara Grieger

Published in 2025

Article examining the ethical and regulatory issues surrounding the use of genome-editing technologies in animal breeding, compared with traditional selection methods. It highlights inconsistencies in the current European framework and calls for animal welfare regulation for all selection methods. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Poultry

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Final report - EFTA Surveillance Authority's follow-up audit to Norway from 20 to 24 January 2025 on protection of laying hens and chickens kept for meat production

ESA (EFTA Surveillance Authority)

Published in 2025

Audit report carried out by the AES in January 2025 in Norway, revealing some progress for the welfare of laying hens, but a continued lack of official controls for broilers. The AES points out that, despite some remedial actions, Norway has yet to fully integrate these measures into its on-site compliance inspections.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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L’enrichissement du milieu de vie

Céline Tallet and Violaine Colson

Published in 2025

Article on environmental enrichment in captive animals. Conditions in captivity restrict the satisfaction of animals' physiological and ethological needs. Lack of stimulation and stressful practices can be detrimental to their welfare and affect the quality of scientific research carried out on these animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Goats, Equines, Sheep, Fish, Pigs, Rodents, Poultry

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Final Report of an Audit of France carried out from 13 to 24 November 2023 in order to Evaluate the Protection of Unweaned Calves during Long Journeys

DG Health - European Commission

Published in 2025

Audit report on French controls on long journeys by unweaned calves, which concludes that the system is generally well set up, but is limited by certain deficiencies (gaps in procedures, control prioritization not always based on risks, lack of systematic follow-up). It recommends improvements to ensure greater compliance with animal welfare requirements.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

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