Animal welfare is an issue to which the
EU devotes a considerable amount of effort
and attention, as part of its overall animal
health strategy and in response to ethical
concerns. The EU has been developing
animal welfare legislation for over 30
years, starting in 1974 with rules aimed
at preventing the needless suffering of
animals at slaughter. Since then, laws have
been developed on a broad range of issues
ranging from the welfare of animals during
transport to on-farm requirements for
specific species. Respect for the five basic
freedoms (freedom from discomfort, from
hunger and thirst, from fear and distress,
from pain, injury and disease, and the
freedom to express natural behaviour) is
the fundamental principle underlying the
EU’s measures on animal welfare.