Denmark establishes an international animal welfare centre

In collaboration with universities in Germany and the Netherlands, Aarhus University in Denmark will run a new reference centre for animal welfare. The task has been won on recommendation of the Environment and Food Minister Esben Lunde Larsen.

In the next five years, Danish researchers will help improve the control of animal welfare for European piglets. The European Commission has appointed a consortium consisting of the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute in Germany, the Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the University of Aarhus in Denmark. Together they will run a Reference Centre for animal welfare, that will advise authorities and industries in the 28 member countries.

“Denmark has a long practical and research-based tradition with lifting animal welfare and developing control and inspection in Danish stables. Therefor I am glad that the EU has appointed Denmark as a winner of the task of running the new reference centre for animal welfare.” says the Minister of Environment and Food, Esben Lunde Larsen.

Through an agreement on research-based government services with the Ministry of Environment and Food, Aarhus University has a long-term experience in providing research-based knowledge and advice on animal welfare to the authorities. Researchers from the university will now – together with their colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands – help develop knowledge and tools that can lift animal welfare especially in the European pig industry.

Source: Ministry of Environment and Food