Austria Accelerates Phase-Out of Conventional Pig Pens to Boost Animal Welfare
Austria has taken a major step forward in improving pig welfare. On May 13, 2025, the Austrian Parliament passed a new legal norm affecting pig farming, which shortens the transition period for so-called unstructured fully slatted pens. After confirmation by the Federal Council on May 27, the law officially entered into force on June 1, 2025.
The amendment follows a decision by the Austrian Constitutional Court at the beginning of 2024. The court had challenged the previous 17-year transition period (lasting until 2039) and called for a sooner, justified deadline for phasing out these conventional pens.
Under the new regulation:
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Unstructured fully slatted pens for rearing piglets, fattening pigs, and breeding pigs must be phased out by June 1, 2034, at the latest. From that date, the “new group housing” standards apply.
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Exceptions exist for farms that built new facilities between June 2018 and December 2022 or modified existing pens during this period. These farms may continue using unstructured pens for up to 16 years from completion, provided they notify the relevant authority by December 31, 2027, with documentation of the changes.
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New rules on stocking density for pigs above 30 kilograms and enrichment materials for rearing and finishing pigs will take effect on June 1, 2029.
Buildings or conversions approved after January 1, 2023, are already compliant with the new group housing regulations and are not affected by the transitional rules.
The “new group housing” standards significantly improve animal welfare:
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Unstructured fully slatted pens are prohibited.
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At least one-third of the pen area must be a resting space.
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Pens must include enrichment materials, increased space per animal, and provisions for temperature zones and cooling.
The law also introduces ongoing scientific evaluation, with two large-scale projects, IBeST and IBeST+, set to assess the minimum standards by the end of 2026.
Another change affects the service life of housing systems: the previous 23-year lifespan rule no longer applies. The new Animal Welfare Act simply requires “sufficiently long transitional periods”, considering the durability of existing housing.
Overall, the legislation aims to gradually phase out conventional fully slatted systems, while providing planning security for farmers. By introducing clearer transitional rules and stricter welfare standards, Austria is moving toward a more animal-friendly pig farming sector.