EU: Parliament pushes new measures to strengthen the livestock sector

On Wednesday, Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee adopted a series of proposals to boost productivity and efficiency in the livestock sector, by 40 votes in favour and 8 against.

These proposals include:

• a comprehensive and research-driven strategy, focusing on precision farming, innovation, and improved productivity and sustainability;
• measures to safeguard common agricultural policy (CAP) budgets in real terms to keep the same level of financial support for livestock farmers;
• efforts to ensure that EU standards on animal welfare, health, and environmental performance are reflected in all trade agreements;
• stronger promotion of EU livestock products abroad, via clearer labelling practices and protection of geographical indications;
• the creation of a high-level group on livestock, modelled on the high-level group on wine policy, to develop tailored solutions while respecting regional diversity;
• positioning of EU livestock as a cornerstone of a sustainable bioeconomy, ensuring that productivity, innovation and competitiveness go hand in hand;
• enhanced EU coordination in vaccination strategies, early detection systems, and data sharing, including a centralised vaccination data bank and compensation schemes for farmers affected by outbreaks.

Background

As the world’s second largest meat producer and leading milk producer, the EU maintains a strong global position in the sector, with livestock playing a vital role in supplying high-quality protein and nutrients for balanced diets. Global demand for animal protein is expected to rise significantly by 2050, reinforcing the sector’s long-term relevance. Despite this, the EU livestock sector is facing mounting economic, environmental, and social pressures. Livestock populations are declining, as are meat and dairy consumption levels, except for poultry. Many farmers are exiting the sector owing to economic difficulties, a lack of generational renewal, and insufficiently attractive prospects.