In 2019 over 1,600,000,000 farm animals (ovines, bovines, poultry, and pigs) were transported alive across the European Union and to non-European countries. Live transport is a major concern as animals are exposed to stress at loading and unloading, and can suffer hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and lack of space and rest during transit. Transporting live animals also poses serious risks for animals and, potentially, public health due to the possible spread of diseases.

Eurogroup for Animals calls for systemic changes to make sure that animals will not be unnecessarily transported within the EU and they will never leave the Union alive.

The Hens’ Asks has been developed by Eurogroup for Animals and its member organisations to define high welfare standards for laying hens in Europe. It addresses key welfare issues at different stages of the laying hens’ life (parent flock, pullets, laying hens, catching, transport and slaughter).

Companies can sign up to the Hens’ Asks, specifying the scope of their commitment in terms of geographical perimeter (national vs regional), product range (company vs brand level) and egg category (shell eggs, egg products, egg ingredients) covered. By signing up to the Hens’ Asks, a company commits to meet all the requirements listed below by 2027 for 100% of its sourcing for the specified perimeter.

On Monday 14th February the Parliament is due to vote on the AGRI implementation report on on-farm animal welfare by the rapporteur Jérémy Decerle MEP (RE, FR).

Eurogroup for Animals, Compassion in World Farming and Four Paws regret that this report has not fulfilled its primary purpose to provide comprehensive conclusions on the implementation of selected farm animal welfare related EU legislation. It presents a text that is full with positions from a bygone age.

It ignores much of the scientific knowledge gained in regards to the welfare of animals over recent years, pays little or no attention to the many problems inherent in the current farming systems — especially intensive animal production — falls much below citizens’ expectations and sidesteps the very scope of the mandate for this report: the implementation of EU legislation concerning the welfare of animals on farms.

On 20 January 2022, the European Parliament adopted the Recommendation which had previously been approved by the Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT) on 2nd December 2021. Eurogroup for Animals believes that the already weak Recommendation approved by the ANIT Committee was watered down further in Plenary. The amendments that could have had considerable positive impact on the welfare of the animals transported, as well as those supporting a systemic change, did not receive the support needed and expected.