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Brussels, |
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EU Animal welfare Legislation
EU animal welfare legislation establishes a harmonised framework of minimum standards covering a wide range of animal species and welfare-related issues. The legal framework combines general rules applicable to all farmed animals with more specific provisions for particular species and for key stages such as transport, stunning and slaughter. The basic cross-sector rule is Council Directive 98/58/EC, which lays down minimum standards for the protection of all farmed animals.
Alongside this general directive, the EU has adopted more specific legislation for particular categories of animals and situations. The Commission groups these rules under areas such as animal welfare on the farm, transport of live animals, and stunning and slaughter. This structure reflects the EU approach of regulating welfare not only by species but also by the conditions animals face throughout the production chain.
The legislation also distinguishes the areas that fall outside this policy branch. According to the Commission, rules on wild animals and on animals used for scientific purposes fall under the responsibility of DG Environment, rather than the animal welfare legislation managed under DG SANTE.
The EU framework is currently under revision. On 20 May 2020, the Commission announced a revision of EU animal welfare legislation to align the rules with the latest scientific evidence. On 7 December 2023, it adopted a proposal to revise the Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and a proposal for a new Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. The Commission notes that work is still ongoing on the other planned legislative proposals.
A further component of the framework includes related measures such as the EU ban on cat and dog fur under Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007, which has applied since 31 December 2008. The wider body of EU animal welfare legislation is therefore not limited to farm standards, but also includes specific prohibitions and rules addressing particular welfare concerns in the internal market.
Alongside this general directive, the EU has adopted more specific legislation for particular categories of animals and situations. The Commission groups these rules under areas such as animal welfare on the farm, transport of live animals, and stunning and slaughter. This structure reflects the EU approach of regulating welfare not only by species but also by the conditions animals face throughout the production chain.
The legislation also distinguishes the areas that fall outside this policy branch. According to the Commission, rules on wild animals and on animals used for scientific purposes fall under the responsibility of DG Environment, rather than the animal welfare legislation managed under DG SANTE.
The EU framework is currently under revision. On 20 May 2020, the Commission announced a revision of EU animal welfare legislation to align the rules with the latest scientific evidence. On 7 December 2023, it adopted a proposal to revise the Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and a proposal for a new Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. The Commission notes that work is still ongoing on the other planned legislative proposals.
A further component of the framework includes related measures such as the EU ban on cat and dog fur under Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007, which has applied since 31 December 2008. The wider body of EU animal welfare legislation is therefore not limited to farm standards, but also includes specific prohibitions and rules addressing particular welfare concerns in the internal market.
