On-farm animal welfare in the EU is finally on the table. In July 2025, the European Commission launched a Call for Evidence as the first step toward revising EU rules on how animals are treated on farms. This is a process we’ve long awaited and one we can’t afford to let go off-track.
In submitting our contribution our message was straightforward: the revision of on-farm animal welfare legislation must not be treated as a technical footnote. It must be a cornerstone of this Commission’s agenda. Read our full contribution here (PDF).
For too long, EU laws on farmed animals have lagged behind both science and society. The existing rules, with some dating back over 20 years, are outdated, patchy and often unenforced. In the face of today’s intersecting crises in agriculture, climate, biodiversity, and public trust, an update tweaking some rules won’t work.
The Commission’s Call for Evidence highlights a few long-overdue issues, such as ending the use of cages for laying hens, banning the culling of day-old male chicks, or applying welfare standards to imported animal products. These are important steps. But they’re nowhere near enough.
What’s urgently needed is comprehensive, species-specific legislation, grounded in the best available science and aligned with citizens’ expectations. Alignment is needed with the latest EFSA scientific opinions on welfare indicators, housing, management and pain mitigation. That means clear, enforceable standards for all farmed species, not just a few, including the long awaited ban of cages for all animals.
The previous Commission committed to revising all EU animal welfare legislation. Now it’s time to deliver. We will continue to push for legislation that reflects what the science tells us, what animals need and what citizens expect. The Call for Evidence is just the start, the real work is just beginning.