Implementation of the European directive on pig welfare: a comparative study of four member states

Abstract

Farm animal welfare is an important component of the transition towards sustainable food systems. The success of the recent European Citizen’s Initiative “End the Cage Age” has shown that animal welfare is also a public concern. Yet, despite the existence of European Union (EU) legislation on farm animal welfare, little is known about how member states implement these laws, leading to potential enforcement gaps. This raises the question of how member states customise EU animal welfare policies and what drives these variations. Our study investigates this issue by analysing the implementation of a European pig welfare directive in four member states: Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain. Drawing on the concept of customisation, we assess differences in the density and restrictiveness of national regulations compared to EU standards and explore potential drivers, such as public opinion and political party positions. Our findings reveal significant variation, with Denmark and Germany exceeding EU standards through stricter and denser regulations, while France and Spain adhere more closely to the minimum requirements. These differences align with varying public and political priorities at the national level. The results highlight the critical role of national contexts in shaping the implementation of EU policies and provide insights for designing more effective animal welfare legislation. Our study underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the interplay between public opinion, political dynamics, and regulatory frameworks to enhance the welfare of farmed animals across the EU.