The first 100 days of the federal government were 100 days without any animal welfare initiatives, according to criticism from the German Animal Welfare Federation. This is also confirmed by the press release “100 Days of Change” from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in which the words “animal welfare” or “animal well-being” do not even appear.
“The federal minister has done nothing for animal welfare in the first 100 days of the federal government, on the contrary,” comments Thomas Schröder, president of the German Animal Welfare Federation. "Rainer says he makes policy for agriculture and the food industry – but not for animals. Yet he is also the minister for animal welfare by virtue of his office. We still hope that the federal minister will reach out to us. In recent years, through our involvement in commissions and working groups, we have proven that we seek dialogue and want solutions for greater animal welfare, not battles."
Shortly after taking office, Federal Minister Rainer announced that he would not uphold the ban on the cruel practice of tethering cattle, which was scheduled to take effect in 2035 under the previous government. Despite massive criticism from animal and species conservationists, however, the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD initiated a plan to include the wolf in hunting law, even though such a course of action cannot be scientifically justified and will not help grazing livestock farming. Instead of overturning or at least revising the state animal husbandry labeling system, because it does not improve animal welfare, Rainer has extended the transitional arrangement until March 2026. The dismissal of the previous, politically independent Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Ariane Kari can also be seen as a clear signal against previous efforts in animal welfare. “So far, it looks as if Rainer is turning back the clock on animal welfare,” says Schröder. “But it's not too late yet. Minister, as Minister for Animal Welfare, you have a special obligation to the state's animal welfare goals.”
