A new animal welfare regulation is being prepared – public consultation has begun

Modernisation on several fronts

The upcoming regulation covers several key areas:

• the elimination of caged livestock for laying hens, calves, pigs and rabbits,

• the introduction of animal welfare indicators and digital tracking tracking,

• animal welfare requirements that also apply to imported animal products,

• the ethical issue of killing male day-old chicks, which has long been a subject of debate.

The aim of the new regulation is to provide a uniform, transparent and modern framework for animal keepers, processors and importers, while also meeting consumer expectations.

The gradual phasing out of cage farming phasing out

The EU plans to phase out cage farming from 2027. The current consultation focuses in particular on the economic impacts of the transition, what alternative technologies are available and how this can be implemented in a sustainable way. The measure affects not only EU farmers, but also importers to the EU.

Opinion for everyone

The consultation is open to everyone. Participation requires prior registration in the EU Transparency Register, but you can also log in with your existing social media account. The Commission will consider the comments received when finalising the regulation.

What does this mean for market players?

The tightening of animal welfare regulations will directly affect the investment and operating strategies of livestock farms, the supply of raw materials to the processing industry and the entry conditions for imported products. The changes aim to improve the quality and sustainability of EU animal products in the long term, but may also entail significant adaptation costs for market players.