News item | 24-06-2025 | 15:08
Cows even more often in the meadow, more space and resting places for poultry and piglets longer at the sow. This is a selection from the agreements from the covenant ‘Steping to an animal-worthy livestock farm’ that have signed agricultural parties, animal welfare organizations and market and chain parties with Minister Wiersma of Agriculture, Nature, Fisheries and Food Certainty (LVVN) today to increase the welfare of animals in livestock farming. We work step by step on this goal in the direction of 2040, whereby a good revenue model for farmers and space within permits are being looked into. The new ‘Authority of Animal Livestock’ monitors and reports on the progress.
Minister Wiersma, Ministry of LVVN: “The Dutch farmer has been providing high standards in animal welfare for years. With this covenant we are set the course for further improvement, without asking the impossible. We do this together with the sector, animal protection, caring farmers and market and chain parties, with an eye for the animal and the farm.
From farmer to supermarket: the entire chain is participating
Research from Wageningen University & Research and Connecting Agri & Food shows that the intended measures can have major financial consequences for the sectors. Farmers cannot make this change directly and especially not alone. That is why it has been agreed in the covenant that supermarkets, processors and other market parties also take responsibility. Products must be purchased at a fair price, so that farmers can also earn a reasonable income at higher costs.
In the coming years, all the covenant parties involved will work together to develop even more knowledge, to conduct practical tests and make agreements with other market parties. This way we discover what works in practice, and forerunners can take steps faster. The government has made 51 million euros available for this.
Animal Livestock Authority
The newly established authority of animal -worthy livestock farming measures, monitors and reports whether the goals of the covenant are achieved and monitors progress. In 2028, 2033 and 2038 it will be evaluated whether all preconditions have been completed for the next step. Examples of those preconditions are a good revenue model for farmers and the possibility to obtain a permit.
New legal framework
The covenant is closely in line with the Order in Council (AMvB) ‘animal -worthy livestock farming 2040’, which today has been opened by Minister Wiersma for internet consultation. This AMvB describes how dairy cattle, calves, pigs and chickens can be kept in an animal -worthy way. The rules are based on recent scientific insights and practical experiences from livestock farming. Where possible, the target regulations are, so that farmers can decide for themselves how they apply them within their company. The measures are required by law for all farmers.
Follow-up
With the signing, the covenant is immediately official and we can immediately get started with the agreements. At the draft-AMVB of Minister Wiersma, interested citizens, companies and organizations can still respond via the internet up to and including 5 August. This is followed by the processing of the responses and its legal tests. The AMvB is expected to be offered to the Upper and Lower House this fall.