Welfare Science

Pig Welfare Legislation Review

Reviewing the adequacy of current pig welfare legislation against scientific evidence identifies gaps and priorities for legislative reform to improve millions of lives.

Key Facts

Current EU minimum space allowances for pigs fall below evidence-based welfare thresholds
Enrichment requirements in UK legislation are vague and inadequate in practice
Pain relief requirements for procedures including castration are unenforced in many member states
Farrowing crate legislation has not been updated to reflect scientific evidence on alternatives
Post-Brexit, UK pig welfare legislation is at risk of diverging downward from EU standards

Welfare Considerations

Pig welfare legislation lags significantly behind scientific evidence. Regular review and updating of minimum standards is essential to translate welfare science into legal protection for farm animals.

What You Can Do

Engage with government consultations on pig welfare legislation and minimum standards
Support organisations advocating for evidence-based legislative reform
Contact elected representatives about specific legislative gaps in pig welfare protection