Hundreds of millions of pigs around the world are kept in factory farms. Just under 1 billion animals in the world today are pigs. Over 500 million of these pigs live in industrialised systems, known as factory farms. Being kept in such intensive conditions has severe health and welfare implications for the animals involved.

Compassion in World Farming has campaigned for many years to ensure higher welfare standards for pigs. During this time we have seen vital steps forward, including the recognition of animals as sentient beings within the EU (Lisbon Treaty, 2009), and the passage of legislation such as Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs.

What we are doing: Project Pig

Getting sows out of stalls

Project Pig is Compassion’s campaign to build on the legislative advances made within the EU, with specific regard to enforcing the Pigs Directive across Europe. Our initial emphasis was on the 2013 Sow Stall Ban, and Project Pig lobbied DEFRA, the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU Agriculture Ministers to stop some of the routine abuses of pig welfare and seek to ensure that all nations were fully compliant with the Sow Stall ban when it came into force on 1^st Jan 2013. A number of countries continue to be non-compliant on this ban.

Enforcing European pig welfare law

We also monitor and make formal complaints to the European Commission regarding breaches of the Pigs Directive by EU countries which can result in these countries being taken to the European Court. In February 2013 the European Commission began infraction proceedings against 9 EU Member States for failing to be compliant with the ban. By January 2014 this number had fallen to 6 non-compliant Member States.

Between March 2013 and March 2014, 475,576 people signed our petition calling on every EU Agriculture Minister to ensure that their country complies fully with the EU Pigs Directive.

Over the coming years we will continue to press for 100% compliance with the sow stall ban whilst also seeking to ensure a reduction in routine tail docking of pigs produced in the EU, enforcement of the requirement regarding the provision of enrichment materials, and for the Commission to agree to full transparency on compliance levels with the Pigs Directive.

Timeline

July 2014

EU DOSSIER PUBLISHED

We publish dossier of photos from pig sector’s own materials from 7 EU countries (including UK) showing that many farmers continue to flout pig welfare laws. Read more about the dossier.

March 2014

475,576 PEOPLE DEMAND PROTECTION FOR EU PIGS

Compassion delivers a 475,000 signature petition to the EU Agriculture Council when it meets in Brussels. Read more about the petition.

January 2014

ONE YEAR ON FROM THE SOW STALL BAN BEING INTRODUCED, 6 EU MEMBER STATES ARE STILL KEEPING PIGS ILLEGALLY

Read more about the countries still flouting the ban.

Summer 2013

CROATIA JOINS THE EU

Croatia's level of Compliance with the Sow Stall ban is unknown (but presumed to not be fully compliant).

2013

INVESTIGATIONS ACROSS EU PIG FARMS

Compassion's investigators visit 45 pig farms across the EU. Across Europe, there is evidence that much of the EU pig industry is completely ignoring basic welfare laws - leading to the suffering of millions of pigs. Read more about our pig investigations.

February 2013

NINE NATIONS NOT COMPLIANT WITH SOW STALL BAN

European Commission begins infraction proceedings against nine nations not compliant with sow stall ban.

1 January 2013

EU SOW STALL BAN TAKES EFFECT

Use of sow stalls following the first four weeks of pregnancy banned in all 27 EU Member States.

2009

EU LISBON TREATY

Animals continue to be recognised as sentient beings in EU Lisbon Treaty.

2008

EU PIG FARM INVESTIGATIONS

Over 18 months Compassion in World Farming investigates pig farms in 6 EU Member States and uncovers widespread breaches of the EU Pigs Directive. Watch the investigation film.

2007

REPORT SHOWS ROUTINE TAIL DOCKING CONTINUES

EFSA Report states that over 90% of pigs in the EU are tail-docked despite the practice of docking tails routinely having been illegal since 2003.

2003

ROUTINE TAIL DOCKING BANNED IN THE EU

2001

EU SOW STALL BAN

EU follows the example set by the UK (and Sweden and Luxembourg) and agrees a ban on sow stalls.

1999

UK SOW STALL BAN

UK bans sow stalls after campaign by Compassion in World Farming.

1997

Animals recognised as sentient beings in EU law