Leipzig, Germany – Dr. Heleen van de Weerd of Cerebrus Associates delivered a keynote presentation at the 2024 International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) and European Symposium of Porcine Health Management (ESPHM) Conference. Her talk, "The European Approach to Advanced Pig Welfare," highlighted the European Union’s leadership in animal welfare, key policy strategies, ongoing challenges, and future opportunities to enhance pig welfare standards.

A History of Leadership in Animal Welfare

For over four decades, the European Union has been a global leader in animal welfare, recognising animals as sentient beings capable of experiencing pleasure and pain. Since the first welfare legislation in 1974, the EU has introduced comprehensive standards covering housing, nutrition, veterinary care, stockmanship, and the protection of animals during transport and slaughter. Central to these efforts is the Pig Directive (2008/120/EC), which sets minimum standards to support pigs’ natural behaviours and prevent harmful practices.

Citizen-Driven Change

European citizens have played a powerful role in driving welfare reforms. Initiatives like the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) have mobilised public support for ending restrictive practices such as the use of cages in farming, collecting over 1.4 million signatures in 2019. This groundswell of public sentiment continues to influence policy direction under frameworks like the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

Key Strategies and Platforms for Progress

The European Union employs a range of strategies to support animal welfare improvement:

• The Animal Welfare Strategy, first launched in 2006, has evolved to tackle specific issues such as the use of enrichment materials and tail docking in pigs.

• The Farm to Fork Strategy (2020) integrates animal welfare into broader sustainability goals, linking welfare with health, food quality, and biodiversity.

• The EU Platform on Animal Welfare brings together stakeholders to offer policy advice and technical expertise, with a particular focus on practical welfare solutions such as sow stall alternatives.

Scientific Support and Innovation

Organisations like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Reference Centre for Animal Welfare for Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs) provide critical scientific advice to inform policy and practice. Research focuses on avoiding routine tail docking, developing effective enrichment strategies, and applying animal-based welfare measures (ABMs) for on-farm monitoring.

Challenges and Reflections

Despite significant progress, challenges remain:

• Enforcement of existing welfare laws is inconsistent across Member States.

• Advances in scientific understanding highlight the need for legislative updates, particularly regarding harmful practices that limit welfare.

• Citizens and NGOs increasingly demand transparency and swift progress on commitments such as phasing out cages for farmed animals.

Looking Ahead

Dr. van de Weerd concluded that strengthening enforcement, updating legislation, and promoting best practices across Member States are critical for future progress. Enhancing pig welfare forms part of a broader commitment to ethical farming, sustainability, and corporate responsibility—trends that are reshaping the future of agriculture across Europe and beyond.

For more information on animal welfare innovations and policy developments, visit Cerebrus Associates.