While hanging chains are the most commonly provided enrichment for EU pigs, research clearly shows they are insufficient alone — effective pig enrichment requires manipulable, destructible, and preferably edible or compostable materials.
The gap between legal compliance on pig enrichment and actual welfare improvement is substantial when facilities meet the letter of the law through chains alone. Chains satisfy the regulatory requirement for "manipulable materials" but do not satisfy the welfare need for behavioral engagement, novelty, and expression of natural rooting behavior. Welfare science has identified the characteristics of effective enrichment — manipulability, destructibility, and edibility/compostability — that chains lack. Implementation of effective enrichment at commercial scale is feasible and has been demonstrated in multiple countries. The economic case is strengthened by the reduction in tail biting and associated tail docking when effective enrichment is provided. Regulatory reform requiring effective rather than nominal enrichment is the systemic solution.