According to the results of a Eurobarometer survey published on Thursday 19 October by the European Commission, a large majority of Europeans (84%) believe that farm animal welfare should be better protected in their country than it is at present. Almost as many (83%) would like to limit transport time for animals.
Nearly three quarters of respondents (74%) are in favour of better protection for the welfare of pets in their country.
With regard to fur farming (see other news), more than half of those questioned (57%) believe that it should be strictly banned in the EU, while almost a third (32%) think that it should only be maintained if welfare is improved.
When it comes to food imports from third countries, more than eight out of ten Europeans (84%) believe that the current animal welfare situation should be changed, either by applying EU animal welfare rules to food imports, or by labelling food in accordance with the standards applied.
The proposal on the protection of animals during transport, one of the four strands of legislation, is the most advanced and will be presented by the Commission in December 2023 (see EUROPE 13264/16). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)