Farmed rabbits are one of the least-regulated farm animal species in Europe. Developing welfare standards for farmed rabbits is a current policy priority with significant implications for millions of animals.
Farmed rabbit welfare is one of the most significant unresolved welfare policy questions in European agriculture. Hundreds of millions of rabbits are produced annually in conditions that would not be acceptable for other commonly farmed species - extreme confinement, inability to perform natural behaviors, and inadequate social housing. The policy delay reflects industry resistance and the relative invisibility of farmed rabbit welfare compared to hens and pigs. The EFSA opinion provides the scientific foundation for improvement, but translating this into binding legislation has proven slow. Consumer awareness and demand for welfare-certified farmed rabbit products creates the market conditions within which producers can invest in welfare improvements - and the absence of consumer pressure allows poor welfare to persist.