Project

European Reference Center for Animal Welfare (EURCAW)

The first European Reference Center for Animal Welfare (EURCAW) started on October 1, 2018, led by Wageningen Livestock Research, at the invitation of DG SANTE of the European Commission. The aim is to support the EU Member States with regard to European legislation on the welfare of pigs: on the farm, during transport and slaughter. In 2018, the 2019-2022 work plan was drawn up based on the needs of the Member States. This program is updated every two years at the request of the European Commission, and the Member States are asked about their priorities.  

The first European Reference Center for Animal Welfare (EURCAW) was established by the European Commission (DG SANTE) in 2018, with the aim of supporting EU Member States in the implementation and enforcement of European legislation on pig welfare. This concerns welfare on the farm (e.g. Directive 2008/120/EC), during transport (Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005) and during slaughter (Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009). The center is led by Wageningen Livestock Research. The other two partners are Aarhus University (DK) and the Friedrich Loffler Institut (DE). EURCAW provides support through 5 activities aimed at 1. Coordinated assistance; 2. Gaps in knowledge, 3. Animal welfare indicators, 4. Training and 5. Dissemination. In the months of October - December 2018, the work plan for the years 2019-2022 was drawn up based on the needs of the Member States. LNV made an important contribution to this plan. At the request of DG SANTE, the plan is reassessed every two years, whereby the priorities of the Member States are requested and taken into account as much as possible. LNV (both policy management and NVWA) has also responded to the request to submit suggestions, and these can be found in the details of the second half of the work plan, which runs from 2021-2022.

Publications