Report by the Impact Institute, commissioned by Eurogroup for Animals.

Domesticated animals play a major role in human agricultural and food systems, both historically and today. The continuous growth in global wealth, as well as increased efficiency and industrialisation of animal sourced food production, has created both unprecedented quantities of, and access to, animal sourced food.

In view of these developments, Eurogroup for Animals commissioned an investigation into the true
costs of EU animal sourced food production and consumption. This report discusses the assessment of the EU’s production and consumption of animal sourced food. It evaluates the extent of external costs to human health, the environment, low animal welfare and human livelihood brought about by producing and consuming animal sourced food.

Moreover, the report discusses recommendations to address the externalities of the industrial animal food industry. This work can be used to inform policy and decision-making processes regarding the new EU animal welfare legislation.

Though the EU recognises farmed animals as sentient beings, the current animal welfare legislation does not take into account their innate needs and natures. In fact, loopholes and oversights in the laws that were written to protect them mean these poor beings are often mistreated and neglected by those that are meant to care for them, as well as housed in miserable environments, fed poor diets, and slaughtered inhumanely after experiencing lives full of stress, frustration and anxiety.

This cannot continue. When the European Commission revises the animal welfare legislation later this year, they must include strong, precise, and species-specific rules that support and protect the mental, emotional and physical state of all farm animals. This report covers five species and issues that particularly need the Commission's attention.

This report was created in-line with this exposé video, which features undercover footage from our MOs of the issues it explores (https://youtu.be/1LqIK_JVadg).

With over 330 companies (1) committed to the European Chicken Commitment (2), and a 38% increase since 2021, the evolution of broiler production towards higher welfare farming is clear. European citizens are driving this change, expressing their support for improving welfare standards (3).

To assess the costs of this transition, we commissioned a study from Wageningen University comparing the costs of conventional and ECC-aligned production in six EU Member States - the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The study shows that the costs vary between countries, and are about 18-19% higher on average. Of course, this comes as no surprise, as currently the prices of animal products are lowered by insufficient investments in their welfare. However, the increase in costs can be offset by financial support at national and EU level for higher welfare farming practices. It is indispensable to provide a financial incentive for farmers to drive this crucial change towards improved welfare standards. Retailers also play an important role in providing a fair price for the welfare-friendly products that farmers supply them with.

The transition to better welfare standards is a crucial step towards a brighter future for animals, and is in line with the goals of the Farm to Fork strategy (4). It is high time the EU follows the voice of EU citizens and incorporates higher welfare standards for broiler chickens in the revised animal welfare legislation.

(1) The Humane League, 'STATE OF THE CHICKEN INDUSTRY': http://bit.ly/3n6DtFZ
(2) The European Chicken Commitment: http://bit.ly/40lKuB1
(3) Eurobarometer, 'Attitudes of Europeans towards Animal Welfare': http://bit.ly/3Z1LGZu
(4) European Commission, 'Farm to Fork strategy': http://bit.ly/3yX5Jxz

Many producers, retailers and food manufacturers across the EU have already embraced society’s call to ‘End the Cage Age’. This report summarises numerous interviews with stakeholders involved in all different stages of the supply chain, focusing on shifting to non-cage systems for sows, rabbits, and laying hens. Contains case studies, scientific evidence, data and recommendations for a smooth and swift cage-free transition.