Whilst FOUR PAWS welcomes the European Commission’s reiteration of their plans to update and modernise the outstanding animal welfare acquis, the statement to the European Parliament today raised as many questions as it provided in terms of answers. 

In particular FOUR PAWS welcomes the news that proposals can be expected in 2026, although questions which are the ‘first sectors’ that Commissioner Várhelyi mentioned, and how this will be done.  

To ensure meaningful progress, FOUR PAWS calls for the inclusion of the following key elements into the Commission’s approach: 

• A future proofed farmed animal welfare proposal with a clear long-term vision for animal welfare in the EU, grounded in the five domains model, with a clear commitment to ending the cage age and to a Europe that is free of fur farming and of farmed fur products. 
• A step-by-step approach to implement these changes effectively. 
• Benchmarked animal welfare standards to be based on animal welfare indicators 
• Changes backed by a clear synergy with a reformed Common Agricultural Policy and new Just Transition Fund that allows for farms to be supported financially through changes. 
• Conditionality on imports so that all products coming into the EU meet European standards. 
• Animal welfare labelling to monetise the value of animal welfare for farmers, and to empower consumers to drive change and reward animal welfare investments. 
• A separate proposal to introduce a Union positive list for species that can be traded for the purposes of companionship. 

Joe Moran, Director of FOUR PAWS’ European Policy Office said: “We are pleased that the new Commissioner for Animal Welfare is sending clear intentions early on, it’s just not clear what exactly is intended in the next few years. We need more details. 

“Some previously envisaged measures were also notable by their absence from the Commissioner’s statement. We agree that farmers need to be supported in their transition to higher welfare methods of production. So let’s monetise animal welfare and help farmers to benefit from consumer demand. Where was the mention of a proposal on animal welfare labelling?  

“We really commend the new Commission on their clear commitment to ending the cage age and trust that fur farming will be consigned to the pages of history too. It is also welcome to hear a clear date for new proposals – 2026. Commissioner Várhelyi has dangled the promise of animal welfare yet to come. It is now time for promises to materialize into actions. Otherwise we will be left only with the ghost of animal welfare past”.