The 16th EU Platform on Animal Welfare was held on the 31st of March in Brussels. Topics of discussion centred around proposed changes in the EU legislation related to transport, poultry, and dog and cat welfare. Key speakers included the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, the Head of Unit ‘Animal Welfare’, Directorate for Crisis preparedness in food, animals and plants, DG SANTE, Andrea Gavinelli, and MEPs Daniel Buda and Tilly Metz. The European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare outlined plans for research and protocols concerning welfare assessment for ruminants at slaughter. 

The changes to transport legislation are still in progress, but are aiming to provide more specific information on acceptable temperature ranges for species, shorter transport times and adequate space for individuals. Those proposing the changes to legislation also want to account for advances in monitoring technology and the possibility to reevaluate the amendments every five years. The Polish presidency has been working to amend Chapters VI and Chapter V of Annex 1 to include specific regulations for journey times, temperatures, rest periods, and feeding and watering in the transport legislation (Regulation 1/2005). 

Additionally, the new mandate for the EU Platform on Animal Welfare has been extended for another 5 years, until 30 June 2030, in which the 4 EURCAWs will become members of the Platform. The Voluntary Initiative on the Welfare of Equids shared their proposed leaflet on the management of extensively kept equids, which contains information about maintaining the welfare of equids kept for conservation and rewilding. More information on the extended mandate of the EU Platform on Animal Welfare will be available later in April. 

For the meeting recording, see: https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/16-th-meeting-of-the-eu-platform-on-animal-welfare-2025-03-31 

For the meeting agenda, see: https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/70cf2390-c3ab-454b-a1a3-957140c48d6b_en?filename=aw_platform_20250331_agenda.pdf