At the start of the Green Week in Berlin and with a view to the Bundestag elections, the German Animal Welfare Federation is calling for the protection of farmed animals in Germany to be consistently promoted. Now that the amendment to the Animal Welfare Act introduced to the Bundestag by the “traffic light” coalition has fallen victim to the premature end of the legislative period, it is up to the successor government to take up the previous plans and protect animals in accordance with the national objective.
“If the coalition partners of a successor government continue to postpone or block animal welfare initiatives, this would have devastating consequences for millions of animals,” warns Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation. “In order to drive forward the transformation of agriculture and implement the national goal of animal welfare, it is essential to revise the Animal Welfare Act as well as the Animal Welfare Livestock Farming Ordinance. Constructive solutions in the interests of animal welfare and sustainable agriculture have been on the table for a long time. The future federal government just needs to implement them consistently.”
Although animal welfare has been a state objective in the German constitution for over 20 years, there are still massive gaps in German animal welfare legislation in its current form. For example, there are still no regulations on the keeping of turkeys, dairy cows, fattening cattle and waterfowl in agricultural animal husbandry. In addition to animal-wasteful husbandry systems, the regulatory gaps allow for torture breeding, amputations and cruel exports to third countries. “Economic interests still outweigh the welfare of the animals,” criticizes Schröder.
Background: The failed traffic light coalition of SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and FDP had promised in their coalition agreement to amend the Animal Welfare Act. The amendment had already been submitted to the Bundestag at first reading, discussed and negotiated almost in its entirety before it fell victim to the coalition's demise. The last amendment to the Animal Welfare Act was eleven years ago. After 16 years of CDU-led federal governments, an SPD-led federal government and the participation of the FDP and Alliance 90/The Greens, progress in political animal protection was marginal.
Note to editors: Enclosed you will find an overview of the German Animal Welfare Federation`s events during the Green Week in Berlin. We look forward to meeting you at the press conference of the Agrarbündnis for the presentation of the Critical Agricultural Report 2025, at the press conference with Mr. Schröder or at the reception of our animal welfare label! Please find more information attached.
