Key Achievements

Over the years we have been instrumental in achieving legal protection and EU standards which dramatically improve the way animals are treated.

Our work on EU standards affects all animals in the EU and beyond. We do not stop when a law is adopted but constantly monitor and control if legislation is respected and leads to better welfare, taking the necessary and swift action if it is not.

Through our expertise and campaigns we have gained acceptance of animal welfare as a central EU policy. We ensure that the protection of animals remains high on the EU agenda so that the welfare of animals is always considered when new laws or new policies are adopted.

Through our work Eurogroup for Animals has achieved many things including:

• The legal obligation under the EU Treaty to consider animals as sentient beings when drafting legislation
• Calves can not be kept in small veal crates in the EU since end of 2006
• Barren battery cages for egg laying hens are illegal since 1 January 2012
• Pregnant sows need to be kept in groups with enough space to move around from 1 January 2013
• Using accepted alternative of non-animal test methods in research and safety testing is now an obligation
• The sales of cosmetic products tested on animals has been phased out 
• It is forbidden to import birds caught in the wild for the pet trade
• Zoos have a duty to keep animals in good conditions and need to contribute to conservation
• Animal welfare is now recognised in major international supply chain standards such as GLOBALG.A.P., ISO 26000 and Sustainable Agriculture Initiative
• All farm animals need to be housed, transported and slaughtered without suffering
• The fact that animal welfare is recognised as an integral part of the European Union's sustainable development strategy