Evaluation findings:

The evaluation finalised in 2021 assessed the extent to which the strategy delivered on its objectives and whether these objectives are relevant and consistent today. Among others, it looked at efficiency and whether the strategy usefully complemented national efforts in this field.

The evaluation found that the strategy contributed to setting common priorities that led to improvements on animal welfare across the EU. It also contributed to improve knowledge and sharing of best practices, as well as to enforcement of EU legislation in specific areas.

However, none of the strategy’s objectives has been fully achieved.

The fitness check finalised in 2022, considered the animal welfare legislation (five EU Directives and two EU Regulations, covering animal welfare on farms, during transport and at the time of killing). It concluded that the EU animal welfare legislation has improved to a certain extent the welfare of many of Europe’s animals that are covered by targeted legislation (i.e. pigs, calves, laying hens, broilers), and animals during transport and at the time of killing. However, more generally there is still a sub-optimal level of welfare of animals in the EU.

In terms of efficiency, the fitness check found that the EU animal welfare legislation is assumed to have brought several additional benefits, such as higher productivity, enhanced ecosystems services, lower use of antibiotics and better public health. Animal welfare however also entails additional costs for food business operators and public authorities. Evidence, though limited, suggests that the benefits outweigh the costs of animal welfare, at least over time. However, business operators consider that the market return on food produced under higher welfare standards is still insufficient to compensate for the additional costs imposed. The situation differs between Member States and different sectors, due to differences in citizens’ expectations and market demands.

The information currently provided to consumers on animal welfare standards is insufficient and incoherent. To a large extent, a better return on animal welfare investment may be achieved by providing more, better but also simpler information to consumers, allowing them to make informed choices in line with their concerns.

There is a potential to ease the administrative burden for SME’s (for instance, for small slaughterhouses).

The assessment confirmed the need to revise and modernise the EU animal welfare legislation and will feed into the revision which the Commission is now taking forward.