A cover note from the Council of the European Union, dated 8 July 2026 and circulated ahead of a meeting on 13 July 2026, presents the Commission's strategy for the EU livestock sector, outlining 32 key actions across five pillars: resilience, competitiveness, sustainability, territorial diversity, and excellence. The strategy aims to make the sector more resilient, competitive, sustainable, and territorially fitting, requiring steps from Member States and stakeholders.
The document, an annex to a Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions, sets concrete deadlines for several actions. By end 2026, the Commission will propose revised animal welfare rules for laying hens and broilers, including phasing out cages and ending male chick killing, with WTO-compliant import requirements. By Q2 2027, similar rules for pigs are to be proposed. The Commission will also consider alternatives to exporting animals for slaughter. In sustainability, by end 2026, a stress-test report on the Birds and Habitats Directives will be published, and by Q3 2026, the first assessment of the RENURE act extension is due. A harmonised methodology for livestock GHG emissions will be developed, and a Livestock Platform is to be built by 2027.
On resilience, the Commission will work with the European Investment Bank on a risk-management financial scheme under the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, include risk management in CAP recommendations, ensure financing for animal disease prevention, and support research under the Agri2040 and Food 2040 initiative. Competitiveness actions include considering a dedicated financial instrument for sustainability and animal welfare, exploring preferential loans for cage-free transitions, aligning import standards on animal welfare, and simplifying agri-food legislation. An implementation dialogue on the feed legal framework is scheduled for Q4 2026.
Territorial diversity measures include developing a plan for regions at risk of abandonment to bring back sustainable livestock production and a roadmap on slaughterhouses in rural areas. Excellence actions focus on strengthening EU origin labelling, developing a European Excellence scheme with optional reserved terms, and supporting geographical indications and organic production.
The strategy impacts several stakeholders. EU livestock farmers face new animal welfare and environmental requirements, with potential costs for transitioning to cage-free systems but also access to preferential loans and financial instruments. EU consumers may benefit from improved animal welfare and clearer labelling, though prices could rise. EU agri-food businesses, including feed producers and slaughterhouses, will need to adapt to new regulations and may see opportunities in circularity and bioeconomy. National authorities of EU countries will be responsible for implementing CAP recommendations, reducing nutrient pressure, and facilitating permitting for cage-free transitions, requiring administrative effort.
The Council is expected to discuss the strategy at its meeting on 13 July 2026, with the European Parliament and stakeholders to follow up on the legislative proposals and platform building.