Animal Welfare

Norwegian Food Safety Authority Confirms Documentation Requirement for New Non‑Medicinal Delousing Methods

Norway’s Food Safety Authority has upheld an order stopping a new warm-water delousing method, confirming that non-medicinal delousing techniques cannot be used commercially until their fish-welfare impacts are documented through scientific trials. This enforcement decision clarifies how Norway’s Animal Welfare Act applies to new aquaculture technologies, signalling that operators and suppliers must treat welfare validation as a hard precondition for rolling out innovative delousing equipment or methods.

23 May 2026, 11:16mattilsynet.noNorway

Germany: Greens Motion Proposes Night-Time Operating Ban And Certification Rules For Robotic Lawnmowers

In May 2026, the German Greens tabled a Bundestag motion to mandate daytime-only operation and wildlife-safety certification for robotic lawnmowers, which has now been referred to the Committee on Nature Conservation. If translated into law, manufacturers would need to redesign products and firmware, deliver free updates for connected legacy devices by 2027, and plan for hedgehog-safety certification as a market access condition by 2030.

23 May 2026, 11:15dserver.bundestag.deGermany

EU Council Working Party To Discuss Animal Transport Welfare Proposal (10–11 June 2026)

The Council of the EU has scheduled the Working Party on Animals and Veterinary Questions to discuss the proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport on 10–11 June 2026 in Brussels. This marks the start of Council technical-level negotiations on the animal transport proposal, signalling legislative momentum but no new immediate obligations for operators yet.

23 May 2026, 08:47data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Norway Consults on Amendments to Animal Hygiene Regulation to Implement Regulation (EU) 2026/252

Norway’s Food Safety Authority has opened a consultation on amendments to the national animal hygiene regulation to align emergency slaughter rules with EU Regulation (EU) 2026/252, which revises the conditions and veterinary checks for slaughtering unfit animals outside slaughterhouses. Livestock producers, slaughterhouses and meat processors face limited practical change but should review emergency slaughter procedures and veterinary inspection routines ahead of final EEA incorporation and national adoption.

20 May 2026, 19:55hoering.mattilsynet.noNorwayEuropean Union

APHA Updates Great Britain Pet Travel Guidance On New Animal Health Certificate Template And Signature Rules

APHA has updated Great Britain pet travel guidance to introduce a new EU-derived animal health certificate template and clarify when electronic veterinarian signatures are accepted, with the new template mandatory for GB-issued certificates from 1 October 2026. Transport carriers and veterinarians must adapt their documentation and checking processes ahead of this transition deadline to avoid non-compliance for pets entering Great Britain and to manage fraud and unlawful movements more robustly.

20 May 2026, 07:12gov.ukUnited Kingdom

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