GENERAL

• The Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on the 1st of December 2009 amends the current founding treaties, i.e. the Treaty on European Union (EU Treaty), which will retain its name; and the Treaty Establishing the European Community (EC Treaty), which will be renamed as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
  Title II of TFEU lists some key principles the Union should respect. Here an Article 13 has been introduced with the Lisbon Treaty. It states that: "In formulating and implementing the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage."

Protection on farms

All farm species

• Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes Official Journal L 221 , 08/08/1998 p. 0023 - 0027
• European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes Official Journal L 323 , 17/11/1978 p. 0014 - 0022 (13 KB)
• 78/923/EEC: Council Decision of 19 June 1978 concerning the conclusion of the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes Official Journal L 323 , 17/11/1978 p. 0012 - 0013
• Commission Decision (2006/778/EC) 14 November 2006 amending Decision 2000/50/EC concerning minimum requirements for the collection of information during the inspections of production sites on which certain animals are kept for farming purposes (Text with EEA relevance) (Official Journal L 314, 15.11.2006 p. 0039-0047)

Calves

• Council Directive 2008/119/EC of 18 December 2008, Official Journal L 010 , 15/01/2009 P. 0007 - 0013 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (codified version)

Pigs

• Council Directive 2008/120/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs Official Journal L 47, 18/02/2009 p. 5 (codified version)

Laying Hens

• Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens Official Journal L 203 , 03/08/1999 p. 0053 - 0057
• Commission Directive 2002/4/EC of 30 January 2002 on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC Official Journal L 30 , 31/01/2002 p. 0044 - 0046
• Council Regulation (EC) no 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (OJ L 299, 16.11.2007 p. 1)
• Commission Regulation (EC) no 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) no 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs (OJ L 163 24.06.2008 p. 6)

Chickens kept for meat production

• Council Directive 2007/43 of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (OJ L 182, 12.7.2007 p. 0019-0028)

Protection of animals at the time of slaughter and killing

• Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing Official Journal L 340 , 31/12/1993 p. 0021 - 0034
• Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.
• European Convention for the protection of animals for slaughter Official Journal L 137 , 02/06/1988 p. 0027 - 0038 (64 KB)
• 88/306/EEC: Council Decision of 16 May 1988 on the conclusion of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter Official Journal L 137 , 02/06/1988 p. 0025 - 0026

Protection during transport

• Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004, on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97
• Council Decision (2004/544/EC) of 21 June 2004 on the signing of the European Convention for the protection of animals during international transport
  
• European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (revised) (109KB)
• Commission Regulation (EC) 639/2003 of 9 April 2003 laying down detailed rules pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) 1254/1999 as regards requirements for the granting of export refunds related to the welfare of live bovine animals during transport Official Journal L 093, 10/04/2003 p.0010 - 0017
• Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 of 25 June 1997 concerning Community criteria for staging points and amending the route plan referred to in the Annex to Directive 91/628/EEC (OJ L 174, 2.7.1997, p.1)

Cat and Dog Fur

• Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2007 banning the placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur Text with EEA relevance (Official Journal L 343, 27.12.2007 P. 0001 – 0004)

Wild animals in zoos (Directorate General for Environment)

• Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos, Official Journal L 094 , 09/04/1999 P. 0024 - 0026

Protection of animals used for experimental and scientific purposes ( Directorate General for Environment)

• Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes Official Journal L 276, 20.10.2010 p. 33-79 (revising Directive 86/609/EEC)

Trade in seals products

• Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on trade in seal products.
• Directorate General for Environment