Published 09/03/2017

A new report Animal Welfare in the European Union has recently been released by the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions. The report was compiled by Professor Donald Broom who is an expert in animal welfare, having conducted decades of scientific research as well as teaching at Oxford University.

The Committee on Petitions has shown support for animal welfare issues in the past and their new report reflects this. We hope that the report will lead to renewed pressure for strengthening EU legislation and policy on animal welfare.

Strengthening our case

The report draws attention to the plight of farm animals and enhances our call for improved welfare legislation to be put in place across the EU.

It states that “rabbit welfare is particularly poor” and also stresses that there is no specific EU legislation for rabbits. This helps to strengthen our case ahead of the critical upcoming plenary vote, calling for the phasing out of caged rabbit farming.

The need for species-specific legislation

As well as stressing that there is no species-specific legislation for rabbits, the report is also helpful in emphasising the lack of species-specific EU legislation for beef cattle, dairy cows, ducks, turkeys and farmed fish.

Emma Slawinski, our Director of Campaigns, says: “This is a hugely influential and exciting report which could help lead to stronger EU legislation and policy on animal welfare.

“Crucially it stresses that there is no species-specific EU legislation for rabbits which is particularly important with the plenary vote taking place next week.

“I believe this report will be an extremely useful tool, helping to highlight significant farm animal welfare problems across the EU and influence future policies.”

Today, Compassion in World Farming is working to ensure a better future for farm animals not just across Europe, but around the world. Please consider making a donation today to help stop factory farming – the biggest form of animal cruelty on the planet.