Animal Welfare

New Jersey Assembly Introduces Bill A5060 To Ban Fur Farming

In May 2026, New Jersey introduced Assembly Bill A5060 to ban fur farming statewide, reclassifying it from an agricultural activity and making violations a disorderly persons offence with a one-year transition period after any enactment. If passed, the measure would force remaining fur farms in New Jersey to exit or relocate while signalling stronger animal-welfare expectations for brands and retailers sourcing fur from the state and tightening how fur operations are treated under tax, labour and development programmes.

18 May 2026, 16:03pub.njleg.govUnited States

EU Commission Opens Feedback on Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive

The European Commission is consulting on its Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive, which would amend pesticides, animal welfare and food-contact legislation as part of a wider burden-reduction package, with feedback windows running through late May and mid-June 2026. Agriculture, food, feed, chemicals and packaging businesses should assess how new rules on drone pesticide application, simplified farm record keeping and streamlined food-contact testing could affect compliance strategies, investment decisions and operational planning across EU markets.

16 May 2026, 08:57ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany Begins EU Notification of Tierhaltungskennzeichnungsgesetz (Animal Welfare Labelling Law)

Germany’s agriculture ministry has reportedly begun EU notification of a revised Tierhaltungskennzeichnungsgesetz, the national law creating a state animal-welfare label for animal-based foods, after resolving internal coalition concerns. If the European Commission clears the revised draft—which, according to an official BMEL interview, is intended to extend the label to imported products and gastronomy from 01 January 2027—food and livestock businesses marketing products in Germany will likely face broader, harmonised animal-husbandry labelling obligations and should begin assessing impacts on sourcing, packaging and labelling systems.

13 May 2026, 19:23table.mediaGermanyEuropean Union

US National Park Service Proposes Alaska Preserve Hunting Rule Repealing Bear-Baiting Ban

The US National Park Service has proposed a rule that would roll back hunting and trapping restrictions in Alaska’s national preserves, including re-allowing bear baiting and restoring greater deference to state wildlife management under Alaska’s conservation law framework. Although the public comment window has already closed, the proposal signals a broader shift toward expanding consumptive uses on protected federal lands, with implications for wildlife conservation strategies, stakeholder engagement, and future conflicts over national park resource management.

10 May 2026, 19:19public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

EU Council Presidency Circulates Fourth Compromise Text on Directive Amending Directives 98/58/EC and 2009/128/EC

The EU Council presidency has issued a fourth compromise text for a food and feed safety omnibus Directive that would adjust pesticide rules to allow tightly controlled drone spraying, streamline animal‑welfare record‑keeping, and repeal legacy plastic food‑contact testing directives. If adopted broadly as drafted, it would open new pathways for authorised drone-based pesticide applications, reduce farm reporting overlaps, and consolidate plastic food‑contact compliance, so operators and manufacturers should track how the final timelines, drone conditions, and low‑risk product flexibilities are settled in negotiations.

9 May 2026, 12:04eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Co-Legislators Agree Draft Regulation on the Welfare and Traceability of Dogs and Cats

EU co-legislators have agreed a near-final text for a new regulation establishing harmonised welfare standards and a comprehensive traceability system for all dogs and cats bred, kept, traded or imported in the Union, with implementation staggered over several years after future publication. If adopted as drafted, breeders, sellers, shelters, foster networks, importers and online platforms will face far-reaching new obligations on housing, breeding practices, microchipping and registration, data sharing and online verification that will require multi-year planning, systems changes and coordination across Member States.

9 May 2026, 07:16eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Portugal Adopts Decree-Law 96/2026 Transposing EU Rules on Animals Used for Scientific Purposes

Portugal has adopted Decree-Law 96/2026, published on 4 May 2026, amending its national framework and transposing Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2024/1262 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Research and testing organisations using animals in Portugal should anticipate updated legal expectations for animal welfare and scientific procedures and review how the revised framework could affect their approvals and internal controls.

8 May 2026, 07:19diariodarepublica.ptPortugalEuropean Union

UK Parliament Updates Timetable for Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill

The UK Parliament has updated the timetable for the Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill, with the Commons second reading now shown as "date to be announced" and no firm debate date set. This delay tempers near term momentum for mandatory labelling of meat from animals killed without prior stunning, leaving food and retail businesses with more time but ongoing uncertainty about future labelling and reporting obligations.

8 May 2026, 06:41bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Wallonia Adopts 2026 Programme Decree Amending Environmental and Mobility Frameworks

Wallonia has adopted a wide-ranging 2026 programme decree amending its environmental code, environmental permitting rules, and the framework for longer and heavier or low-emission vehicles, with most provisions applying from April 2026. These changes consolidate multiple incremental measures into binding law, tightening enforcement powers and enabling greener heavy-transport pilots, so operators with Walloon installations or freight routes should review permitting, enforcement cost recovery, and exceptional transport conditions.

8 May 2026, 06:01wallex.wallonie.beBelgium

EU Commission Signals Forthcoming Livestock Strategy for Sustainable EU Livestock Sector

In April 2026 the European Commission signalled a forthcoming EU livestock strategy to be delivered before the summer break, outlining priorities to make the sector more resilient, competitive and sustainable. This indicates that upcoming initiatives on animal welfare, emissions, nutrient management, fertilisers and disease financing could reshape expectations and investment decisions for livestock producers and supply-chain companies across the EU.

5 May 2026, 07:21ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Denmark Consults on Amendments to Animal Experiments Order for Laboratory Animal Housing and Emergency Planning

Denmark has opened consultation on a draft amendment to its animal experiments order to align housing, care and emergency planning standards for laboratory animals with updated EU welfare rules, with application envisaged from December 2026. Operators that breed, supply or use animals for research or regulatory testing in Denmark will likely need to upgrade facilities, environmental controls and contingency arrangements before that date to maintain compliance and avoid disruption to in vivo study capacity.

5 May 2026, 06:53prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netDenmark

Brazilian CCJC Committee Approves Bill Banning Products From Force-Feeding Animals

In April 2026, Brazil's Chamber of Deputies committee approved Senate-origin Bill PL 90/2020 to ban the nationwide production and sale of food products obtained by force-feeding animals, notably foie gras. If enacted, the law would take effect 180 days after publication, forcing food producers, importers, and retailers to phase out these products or face penalties under Brazil's Environmental Crimes Law.

4 May 2026, 18:24camara.leg.brBrazil

Denmark Expands Emergency Slaughter Rules To Animals Unfit For Transport From 7 May 2026

Denmark’s Veterinary and Food Administration will apply expanded emergency slaughter rules from 7 May 2026 so that animals that are otherwise healthy but no longer fit for transport can be emergency slaughtered under defined conditions. Herd owners and slaughter operators need to update assessment and documentation procedures so official veterinarians apply the new eligibility criteria, withdrawal periods under the veterinary medicines order are respected, and animal welfare rules are followed to avoid sanctions.

4 May 2026, 09:16foedevarestyrelsen.dkDenmark

European Parliament Adopts First-Reading Position On Welfare Of Dogs And Cats And Their Traceability Regulation

The European Parliament has adopted its first-reading position on a new EU Regulation that will set harmonised welfare standards and traceability rules for dogs and cats, including mandatory microchipping, registration in interoperable databases, and stricter controls on breeding, sales, shelters and online advertising. Once the measure is formally adopted and phased in over a multi-year transition, breeders, shelters, traders, importers and online platforms involved in pet sales will face materially higher compliance expectations, new registration and data-handling duties, and potential enforcement risks across the EU single market.

3 May 2026, 09:13europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Approves First EU-Wide Cats and Dogs Welfare and Traceability Regulation

In April 2026, the European Parliament approved the first EU-wide regulation on the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs, introducing mandatory microchipping and registration, strict welfare standards for breeders, shelters and sellers, and tighter controls on imports and online pet sales. Once formally adopted by the Council and phased in over the coming decade, these rules will significantly raise compliance expectations for breeders, shelters, online platforms and pet-product businesses, reshaping market practices, documentation and equipment design across the EU.

3 May 2026, 09:13europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

UK Government Response to EFRA SPS Agreement Report Rejects Transition Period and Targets Mid‑2027 Start

In April 2026 the UK Government responded to Parliament’s SPS agreement report, confirming plans for a UK‑EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement to take effect from mid‑2027 while rejecting a 24‑month transition period for affected agri‑food businesses. This fixes a relatively tight adjustment window and signals future dynamic alignment with EU rules on pesticides, mycotoxins, animal welfare and border controls, so exporters and supply chains should start planning now for mid‑decade regulatory convergence and new compliance expectations.

3 May 2026, 07:37publications.parliament.ukUnited KingdomEuropean Union

Spain Opens Consultation on Draft Royal Decree for Positive Lists of Companion Animals

Spain has opened an information-public consultation on a draft Royal Decree that will establish positive lists of species allowed as companion animals under the 2023 Animal Welfare Law, with comments due by 8 May 2026. Once adopted, this framework will significantly restrict trade and ownership of exotic pets to a science-based list of authorised species, tightening obligations for breeders, importers and pet facilities while reducing invasive-species, public-health and animal-welfare risks.

30 Apr 2026, 10:40ecologistasenaccion.orgSpain

EU Delegated Regulation 2026/252 Updates Emergency Slaughter Rules Under Regulation (EC) 853/2004

The European Commission has adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/252 to harmonise and clarify emergency slaughter hygiene rules under Regulation (EC) 853/2004, with the amendment entering into force on 7 May 2026. Food business operators and official veterinarians will need to align emergency slaughter decisions with the animal transport welfare and official control criteria now cross-referenced in Annex III, ensuring more consistent access of such meat to the food chain across Member States.

30 Apr 2026, 06:45eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionSweden

Ukraine Ministry of Economy Draft Order on Animal Welfare Requirements for Transport and Related Operations

Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy has published the full draft requirements and annexes for ensuring animal welfare during animal transport and related operations, as part of a wider animal-welfare compliance order now open for public comment until 10 May 2026. If adopted, these EU-referenced rules would replace the current 2024 procedure and impose more prescriptive welfare and record-keeping conditions on organisations transporting animals, so operators should review the draft and prepare for tightened expectations on journeys, space allowances, and paperwork.

29 Apr 2026, 18:17me.gov.uaUkraine

Sweden Publishes 2025 Audit of County Administrative Boards' Food-Chain Controls: Good Conditions but Weak Legal Certainty

Sweden’s Food Agency and Board of Agriculture have issued a 2026 audit report on seven county administrative boards’ 2025 food-chain controls, finding good planning and staff competence but weak legal certainty and limited follow-up of earlier audit findings. The report does not change underlying law, but it exposes structural weaknesses in how official controls are planned, documented and acted on, signalling likely pressure for more risk-based, fraud-focused and legally robust enforcement across Sweden’s food and feed chain.

29 Apr 2026, 09:09livsmedelsverket.seSweden