EFSA examines well-being of farmed pigs as part of pending animal welfare legislation

11 Aug 2022 --- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is urging improvements to pig welfare as part of the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy. The examination relates to space and provides measures that should be in place to prevent or correct hazards and to also mitigate welfare consequences.

EFSA’s published scientific opinion on the welfare of pigs on farms is the first of several opinions on animal welfare to be delivered in the coming year. 

The opinion describes a total of 16 welfare consequences for different husbandry systems considered by EFSA’s experts to be highly relevant due to their severity, duration, and frequency of occurrence. 

Ending restricted movement
These include restriction of movement, group, heat or cold stress, and prolonged hunger or thirst. Related animal-based measures (ABMs) and hazards leading to welfare consequences are also described in the opinion for each welfare consequence.

EFSA makes a number of detailed recommendations, including suggestions on the quantitative or qualitative criteria needed to answer specific questions on the welfare of farmed pigs that were raised as part of the European Citizens Initiative “End the Cage Age,” a campaign to stop caged farming.

A new report reveals that 70% of Asia’s leading food companies are shifting to cage-free eggs.Among other topics covered in the recommendations related to tail biting are space allowance, enrichment material, weaning, and the practice of mutilations. 

EFSA’s experts also suggest which animal-based measures could be collected in slaughterhouses to monitor the level of welfare on pig farms.

This opinion provides a scientific basis to support a legislative proposal by the European Commission, scheduled for the second half of 2023 as part of the revision of the animal welfare legislation.

Animal welfare comes to fore
This EFSA examination comes on the heels of food and beverage corporations drilling down on animal welfare issues. 

For example, Nestlé now uses only cage-free eggs in all its food products in Europe, addressing consumers’ growing demand for ethical and premium F&B. This is part of a pledge Nestlé made in 2017 to source only cage-free eggs for its food products globally by 2025, beginning with the US and Europe.

The Swiss food giant is calling on EU policymakers to phase out cages in animal farming, starting with laying hens.

Meanwhile, a recent report reveals that 70% of Asia’s leading food companies are shifting to cage-free eggs. According to Sinergia Animal, battery cages for egg-laying hens will soon be a thing of the past in India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.

And earlier this year, billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn – who entered a proxy fight with McDonald’s board to boost animal welfare standards for pregnant pigs confined in small crates – was defeated in a majority vote. 

Icahn, who owns 200 shares in the fast-food giant, started the proxy fight with the fast-food titan over its treatment of pigs, nominating two members to its board of directors in a bid to propel animal rights policies.

By Gaynor Selby