Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Welfare and Scientific Advisory

The role of scientific advisory bodies in developing evidence-based pig welfare standards.

Key Facts

EFSA scientific opinions provide evidence base for EU pig welfare legislation
UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee advises government on welfare standards
Independent scientific advice ensures welfare standards reflect current evidence
Scientific consensus on pig cognition and sentience informs enrichment requirements
Advisory body recommendations are not always adopted in legislation unchanged

Welfare Considerations

Evidence-based welfare standards developed through independent scientific advisory processes are more robust than standards based on economic considerations alone.

What You Can Do

Support organisations contributing to animal welfare scientific advisory processes
Advocate for independent scientific advisory bodies in animal welfare governance
Engage with consultation processes for welfare standard development