Europeans think the welfare of animals in farming should be better protected
23 October 2023
European citizens think that animal welfare should be enhanced in farming, as shown by the results of an Eurobarometer survey. A large majority of the respondents (84%) believe that the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected in their country than it is now, while 83% support limiting the transport time of animals. The welfare of pet animals also garners substantial support, with 74% of Europeans advocating for enhanced protection in their respective countries.
The survey highlights strong objections to certain practices, such as the practice of euthanising male baby chicks after birth, which is considered unacceptable by three-quarters of respondents. Additionally, there is a broad consensus in favor of restrictions on the removal of certain body parts from animals, such as tails, ears, and beaks, except when deemed absolutely necessary and administered with anesthesia. Opinions on fur farming vary, with 57% of respondents supporting a strict ban within the EU, while 32% believe it should be maintained under improved welfare conditions.
Concerning food imports from non-EU countries, 84% of Europeans express a desire for changes in the current animal welfare situation. They propose either applying EU animal welfare regulations to food imports or labeling products according to the applied standards.
The Special Eurobarometer (533) was conducted between 2 and 26 March 2023. A total of 26,376 respondents, from the 27 EU Member States and from different social and demographic groups, were interviewed. Even amid high food prices due to inflation during the survey period, 60% of respondents indicated their willingness to pay more for products originating from animal welfare-friendly farming systems. Approximately 26% were willing to pay up to 5% more for such food.
Within the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission has been working on a revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation, in a way which takes on board the needs of all stakeholders of the supply chain. The proposal on the protection of animals during transport, one of the four legs of the legislation, is the most advanced and will be presented in December 2023.
In 2021, the Commission also responded positively to the European Citizen’s Initiative “End the Cage Age”. This initiative called for the prohibition of the use of cages for the farming of several species of animals in intensive farming systems.
Enhancing animal welfare standards represent a key point included in SAFE’s EU Elections 2024 Manifesto. SAFE urges for the revision of rules on animal transport, slaughter practices, and housing conditions, emphasising the importance of better living conditions for farmed animals, adequate space, clean water, nutritious food, and strict enforcement of animal welfare standards. The new legislation must include measures to enhance animal welfare standards, and Member States should integrate monitoring as part of their annual and extraordinary food safety control plans.
