Animal welfare is framed by European regulations which are transposed into national law (directive) or applicable as they stand (regulation). These regulations govern the breeding of certain cash crops – calves, pigs, laying hens and broilers -, animal slaughter and transport.
A 1998 European directive regulates the welfare of farmed animals but does not have the precision of the specific texts. European Union countries are free to make more binding specific regulatory decisions but must a minima comply with European texts.
Of the specific specifications such as organic or Label Rouge exist, but, while they give animals access to the outdoors in most cases, do not have specific animal welfare standards. Finally, private labels exist also, but are only binding on those who issue them, without any particular validation of the criteria used to characterize animal welfare.
