Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Rabbit EU Reform Detailed

Detailed review of EU reforms in farmed rabbit welfare standards, including cage enrichment requirements and species-specific needs.

Key Facts

EU farmed rabbits number approximately 340 million per year
Most EU farmed rabbits are kept in barren wire cages with no enrichment
The EU has debated species-specific welfare legislation for rabbits since 2013
Rabbits are highly social and require contact with conspecifics
Research supports park or pen systems as superior to conventional cages

Welfare Considerations

Farmed rabbits in the EU have suffered welfare neglect compared to other species, with no species-specific EU legislation despite decades of advocacy. The combination of barren cages, inability to express natural behaviours, high kit mortality, and GI disease creates a significant welfare burden that reformed housing standards could substantially reduce.

What You Can Do

Choose rabbit products certified under higher welfare schemes
Support campaigns for EU rabbit welfare legislation
Reduce consumption of farmed rabbit until higher welfare standards are mandatory