About: animal welfare
EU countries urge Commission to aid crisis-stricken pig meat sector
Twenty EU countries have called on the European Commission to step up action on the crisis-ridden pig meat sector, struggling with disease and the COVID-19 pandemic, with farmers' associations calling it an "existential threat to all farms".
Probiotics one of the ‘last remaining tools’ to fight antimicrobial resistance
As the EU moves to tighten restrictions on the use of antibiotics in the livestock sector, probiotics are rapidly becoming one of the last tools remaining in the toolbox for producers. But prohibitive prices continue to impede their uptake, according to an expert.
Ireland’s decision to export live pigs, sheepmeat to China sparks backlash
Ireland has struck a new deal which will pave the way for the export of sheepmeat and breeding pigs from Ireland to China, in a move which has caused consternation among agricultural stakeholders. The deal, which follows years of negotiations,...
German supermarket chain REWE to remove most foreign pork from shelves
German supermarket chain REWE aims for 95% of its pork to be homegrown to help the sector struggling from disease and high feed prices, prompting the European Commission to warn that over-reliance on domestic supply could in some cases infringe the bloc's competition rules.
French egg industry backs chick culling ban, calls for EU-wide extension
After French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie announced a ban on the crushing of male chicks, questions arose as to how feasible such a move would be, particularly regarding the cost and adopted technique. EURACTIV France reports.
Crying fowl: Ministers call for EU-wide minimum standards for turkey farming
EU agriculture ministers have called for the creation of EU-wide minimum standards for turkey farming, which, despite being the third most slaughtered animal, still lack specific legal regulations for their husbandry.
EU implements first animal welfare-based condition in trade agreement
In an unprecedented move, the EU has included the first animal welfare-based condition in the Mercosur trade agreement, but stakeholders warned that this does not go far enough to save the controversial deal that is facing increasing opposition in Europe.
Germany, France call on EU countries to also ban culling of male chicks
France and Germany are now calling on other EU countries to follow their lead in banning the controversial practice of culling male chicks, which both countries pledged to end from January 2022. EURACTIV France and EURACTIV Germany report.
EU countries back cage-free farming initiative with some caveats
Representatives of member states have endorsed the European Commission's ambition to phase out cage rearing in the EU, but showed far less enthusiasm than the European Parliament and expressed concerns about the timeline of the initiative and the appropriate financial support for farmers.
German commission urges phase out of CAP direct payments
The EU's agricultural subsidies should be restructured to achieve environment and climate goals, including a phase out of direct payments and the reduction of livestock, according to a milestone report from the German commission on the future of agriculture. EURACTIV Germany reports.
MEPs overwhelmingly vote to ban cages for farmed animals
The European Parliament urged the European Commission to make cages for farmed animals a thing of the past in a resolution adopted on Thursday (10 June), marking a first step towards a ban on cages by 2027.
French Senate to finally start discussing animal welfare-friendly farming
The economic affairs committee in the French Senate is due to consider a report on the proposed law for ethical, socially just and animal welfare-friendly farming on Wednesday (12 May) following recent criticism over its alleged inaction on animal welfare. EURACTIV France reports.
Germany calls for mandatory labelling of egg products in the EU
German agriculture minister Julia Klöckner has proposed that products containing eggs must carry information on the housing system used for laying hens, but many of her European colleagues voiced concerns about the red tape this could entail.
Could the UK knock Germany off the top spot for animal welfare?
Germany and the United Kingdom are both angling to become pioneers in the field of animal welfare, with the UK saying Brexit has given it new freedom to boost standards. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Support for banning intensive farming grows despite cost of animal welfare
As a survey conducted by the L214 association published this week points to the suffering of animals in intensive farming, the 'End the Cage Age' initiative put forward by EU citizens is demanding to end the practice of caging animals. EURACTIV France reports.
French mosques fear slaughter policy change is ban on halal chicken
Several major French mosques have expressed concern that a proposed ban on the slaughter of poultry without first stunning the animals would effectively lead to a ban on halal chicken, while the agriculture ministry says this concern is unfounded. EURACTIV France reports.
EU official: Imposing animal welfare standards on imports would be WTO compliant
It would be wise to impose the equivalent standards of animal welfare on meat imports coming into the EU, according to a top EU official, who said this would be compliant with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, provided it...
Germany eyes new animal welfare levy to help raise standards in livestock farming
Germany is considering ways to fund an increased ambition in animal welfare standards, including a new levy on animal welfare, which has raised eyebrows among German farmers who are concerned they will be exposed to unfair competition. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission lists agroecology, animal welfare as core environmental practices
The European Commission has unveiled the first list of environmentally friendly practices that could receive EU funding in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU's farming subsidy programme.
Member states reserve right to enforce mandatory stunning prior to slaughter, rules ECJ
EU countries have the right to enforce mandatory stunning on animals prior to slaughter because it does not infringe on religious rights, the bloc's highest court has ruled, drawing angry protests from the European Jewish Congress.
Ministers approve blueprint for animal welfare label, verdict still out on nutritional labels
EU agricultural ministers have given the green light to an EU-wide animal welfare labelling system, although plans for front of pack nutrition and origin labelling have been shelved for the moment.
UK moves to ban live exports of animals but EU ban ‘far off’, says MEP
As the UK prepares to ban the live export of animals, the debate over the practice is also gaining traction in the EU, although the bloc is unlikely to follow suit any time soon, according to MEP Tilly Metz.
Agrifood Brief, powered by EIT Food: Last push on labelling
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. This week, we speak with: Aneta Zachová from EURACTIV Czech Republic about the latest...