Rabbits are the third most farmed animal in Europe but receive far less regulatory protection than pigs, cattle, or poultry. Conditions in commercial rabbit farming are often severely inadequate.
Farmed rabbits are arguably the most poorly protected major farmed species in Europe. Unlike pigs, cattle, and chickens — which have species-specific EU directives — rabbits are subject only to general farming welfare rules. This regulatory gap has allowed an industry practice of housing millions of rabbits in barren wire cages where they cannot perform any of their natural behaviors. Campaigns for binding EU rabbit welfare legislation have been ongoing for decades with limited success. Consumer pressure — particularly through avoiding rabbit products from non-certified sources — is currently the most effective lever for change.