Consumers want greater animal welfare across Europe, where the law dictates standards for animal species, including calves, laying hens, and broilers. They also desire better animal welfare labeling on food products.

Current labels are not effective

In France, the food agency ANSES responds with a proposal for a Nutri-Score type system that classifies standards from highest (A) to lowest (E).

Unlike most animal welfare labels, which only consider farming methods and ways to improve them, France wants to adopt a more holistic approach.

Current animal welfare labels "are not sufficient," emphasizes Julie Chiron, expertise coordinator at the French food agency.

How does ANSES intend to improve animal welfare labeling?

Instead of focusing solely on farming conditions, ANSES wants to evaluate animal welfare based on scientific indicators measured directly on animals. The food agency also wants to consider not only food-producing animals but also the living conditions of their parents.

Considering only farming methods is insufficient, according to Chiron. "A farm may have perches for laying hens, but if the hens do not use them because they are not easily accessible, for example, this feature will not contribute to their welfare."

Do consumers want better welfare for food-producing animals?

According to ANSES, consumers are increasingly concerned about the living conditions of animals used in the production of food such as meat, dairy products, and eggs.

A recent survey conducted by the Consumer Organization (BEUC) supports this, with nearly 90% of respondents backing new laws to improve the welfare of farm animals in the EU, such as providing more living space and banning cage systems.

Conversely, the food agency wants to focus on the welfare of the animal itself, in line with ANSES's 2018 definition of animal welfare:

"An animal's welfare is its positive mental and physical state related to the fulfillment of its physiological and behavioral needs and expectations. This state varies depending on the animal's perception of its situation."

Animal welfare assessments should also be made for non-food-producing animals, the agency argues. Animals from breeding and selective breeding farms, designed to improve genetic characteristics and supply food-producing animals, also deserve appropriate welfare standards.

What factors affect an animal's welfare?

The French food agency ANSES has identified factors that can affect an animal's welfare at every stage of its life.

These include: genetic characteristics, farming methods, the practices and training of the farmer, housing, feeding, breeding, transport and slaughter, as well as measures taken to ensure good health and limit the use of painful practices.

"In some sectors, breeding animals are raised abroad and little is known about their living conditions," says Chiron. "This criterion will require sectors to organize to ensure they have this information.

"We also cannot claim that a production process respects animal welfare if we know nothing about the living conditions of the previous generation, whose breeding is subject to specific constraints, especially health constraints."

Which animal welfare standard will receive what ranking?

The European Union sets minimum animal welfare standards required across the bloc, but individual member states can go further if they wish—as long as they comply with the EU minimum standards.

How does ANSES think the proposed label will improve animal welfare standards? Well, if an operator only complies with EU animal welfare legislation—whether related to farming, transport, or slaughter—they will receive an "E" ranking.

The agency suggests that this low score (in fact, the lowest available) should help producers implement high animal welfare standards—beyond those required by EU legislation—over time.

Regarding the welfare standards of the parent animals, ANSES suggests that if information is not available, the operator should receive a "C" ranking or lower.

Similar to Nutri-Score, the labeling system should allow consumers to make quick decisions based on an overall score.

How does the new Nutri-Score work?

The Nutri-Score nutritional labeling scheme was developed in France in 2017. Its algorithm ranks foods from -15 for the most "healthy" products to +40 for the "less healthy" ones. Based on this score, the product receives a letter with a corresponding code: from dark green (A) to dark orange (E).

Who should pay for higher animal welfare standards?

Improving animal welfare standards is not cheap. Regarding who should cover these costs, ANSES suggests that all stakeholders should bear the costs of improving and evaluating animal welfare standards.

European consumers also agree that not all costs should be borne by farmers. A recent survey conducted by the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) and associated organizations sought answers from 1,000 people in eight countries: Belgium, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

A total of 74% of participants said they would like, if higher animal welfare standards were implemented across the bloc, for the EU to provide funds to farmers to help cover these costs.

If consumers want higher welfare standards and have an idea of how they would like the associated costs to be covered, could animal welfare labeling be on the horizon?