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Questions to EURCAW (Q2E)
Scientific and technical assistance
The centre has been created in the context of the regulation 2017/625 about official controls (art. 95) to support the European Commission and member states in the applications of legislation regarding poultry and other small farm animals’ welfare.
The Centre offers scientific and technical assistance to Competent Authorities (CA), National Reference Centre (NRC), other Supporting Bodies (SB), from the EU Member States and the European Commission, regarding all aspects of welfare legislation implementation. The Centre is covering hatchery, farming, transportation and killing outside of risk assessment and risk management areas.
Sixth EU-network meeting
The sixth EU-network meeting between representatives of Competent Authorities and the EURCAW-Poultry-SFA, with the participation of one DG SANTE unit G5 representative, one EFSA representative and two EFTA representatives as observers, took place physically at Anses headquarters in Maisons-Alfort, France in October 2025, 01-02, during 2*0.5 days.
In total 35 participants, from 17 EU Member States (MSs) participated, including 22 delegates from EU MSs.
Participants took the opportunity to network during the ice breakers and social activities (visit of the Fragonard Museum followed by a join dinner) and exchange on various subject during the World Café and the “Eat & meet” sessions. Four participants took the opportunity to present/discuss their topics of interest during the plenary session.
Report of the event here.
Link to the presentations pdf: link.
New Thematic factsheet
We are pleased to share a new Thematic Factsheet focused on the most relevant environmental enrichment for rabbit welfare on farm.
For each category of environmental enrichment including physical, occupational, nutritional, social, and sensory elements, the main critical issues and recommendations are highlighted.
For more information see the rabbits on-farm welfare webpage.
New Q2E answer availalble
Q2E 2025-005_Pre-stun shocks in waterbath stunning of Poultry
A new 'Question to EURCAW' (Q2E) has been published on “Pre-stun shocks in waterbath stunning of Poultry”.
To see more, take a look at https://zenodo.org/records/18257644 and at our Question to EURCAW's subpage!
A new Q2E on duck catching is online!
A new 'Question to EURCAW' (Q2E) has been published on “Duck catching".
To see more, take a look at https://zenodo.org/records/18160993 and at our Question to EURCAW's subpage!
EURCAWs and EU Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare
Competent Authorities, inspectors and policy workers from EU Member States can ask EURCAW-Poultry-SFA scientific and technical questions they may have regarding poultry and small farmed animals’ welfare. The other EURCAWs provide a similar service for their species: Pigs, Aqua, and Ruminants and Equines.
These ‘Questions to EURCAW’ (Q2Es) are regularly submitted and answers are published online. Unfortunately, sometimes the research literature is unclear or even lacking on some important questions. In those cases, “further research is necessary”.
The four EURCAWs have been invited by the EU Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (link) to submit urgent research needs. The Partnership is currently revising its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), and will consider new important topics.
Fingers crossed that these questions from MS officials will be answered in the future, through sound science!
Workshop EURCAW novel ‘welfare inspection support tool’
On December 15th, 2025, the four EURCAWs organized an online workshop entitled EURCAW novel ‘welfare inspection support tool’ for the EU Animal Welfare Member State official inspectors/officials. A total of 13 participants attended the workshop. Excluding EURCAW members, 8 participants from 8 EU Member States were present.
The workshop used a co-design process to ensure that the tool addressed the established needs of official inspectors, as an end-user. Three key elements were explored through the co-design process:
- The primary purposes for using the inspection tool.
- The types of content official inspectors expect to access through the tool.
- The technical and technological features that should be incorporated into the tool.
Selection of the most appropriate depopulation method for the welfare of poultry
The Selection Guide is online!
This selection guide has been developed for competent authorities, but it is available to any interested party. It is structured as a hierarchy of decision trees designed to determine whether a given depopulation method can be used while ensuring poultry welfare.
Have a look here.
For more information visit our sub-page here.