Minimum space allowances for pigs vary enormously between countries. Scientific evidence consistently shows current legal minimums are insufficient for good welfare.
Legal minimum space allowances for pigs in most countries were set based on economic considerations as much as welfare science. Research consistently shows that pigs given significantly more space than the legal minimum show reduced aggression, better air quality in their environment, and more positive behavioral expression. Overcrowded pigs cannot simultaneously lie out fully, access food and water without competition, or move freely - basic welfare compromises that occur within every unit operating at minimum legal standards. Consumer pressure for higher welfare standards creates market pressure for change.