2025-04-022024/25:MJU10 · p.10MJUEnvironment & agriculture
EU animal welfare legislation
Strengthening the EU's animal welfare rules
What's at stake: Outdated EU animal welfare rules affect both animal welfare and the competitive conditions for farmers in countries like Sweden that already have higher standards. The decision concerns how actively Sweden should push for specific improvements, such as shorter transport times and a ban on cage housing, rather than waiting for the EU's own process to run its course.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden, within the EU, should actively push for specific tightening of animal welfare rules, such as a ban on cage housing and shorter transport times, or whether the committee - which considers the ongoing review of the EU's animal welfare legislation to already cover this - should reject the motions.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions calling for specific EU requirements. It shares the view that the EU's animal welfare rules need to be modernized and tightened, but considers this best achieved by carrying the ongoing review of the EU's animal welfare legislation through in full, and expects the government to keep pursuing the issue in Council work and contacts with the Commission.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 13 (C)
The reservation (C) wants Sweden to push for specific tightening of the EU's animal welfare rules, including a ban on cage housing for hens and others, shorter transport times and an EU commissioner with specific responsibility for animal welfare, for fairer competition and better animal welfare across the EU.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 13 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 172–20Nej 93–99
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/93/13 | differs | confidence: medium | explicit |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:1397 by Martin Kinnunen et al. (SD) request 1, 2024/25:1770 by Rebecka Le Moine et al. (MP) request 2, 2024/25:2953 by Helena Lindahl et al. (C) request 23, 2024/25:2954 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) request 50, 2024/25:3037 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) request 35.2 and 2024/25:3108 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) request 44.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1397 av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD) yrkande 1, 2024/25:1770 av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP) yrkande 2, 2024/25:2953 av Helena Lindahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 23, 2024/25:2954 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 50, 2024/25:3037 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 35.2 och 2024/25:3108 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 44.
Riksdag decision: Animal veterinary services shall be given better conditions to conduct their operations. The Riksdag approved the government's proposal which means changes for businesses that offer health and veterinary services for animals. The aim is to ensure in the long term a well-functioning health and veterinary service for animals. Supervision of animal health and veterinary services shall be expanded; currently supervision only applies to the person performing an animal treatment. The proposal means that supervision now also applies to those who conduct a business where animal health personnel work. Today animal care assistants are not part of animal health personnel. Given that demand for animal veterinary services has increased greatly, animal care assistants will be able to become approved and thus be included in animal health personnel. Another change in the regulations concerns making it easier for foreign veterinarians to work in Sweden. The new regulations begin to apply on 1 September 2025 with the exception of changes relating to the qualifications for animal care assistants which instead begin to apply on 1 September 2030. The Riksdag also decided to direct a formal request (tillkännagivande), an appeal, to the government to protect and develop Swedish pasture rights.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants private veterinarians to have reasonable compensation models and the opportunity to participate in emergency preparedness on their own terms. (C) — Reservation 13
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan's carrying commitment is that all animal husbandry shall be based on the fact that animals are sentient beings who should live good lives.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's carrying commitment is that all animal husbandry shall be based on the fact that animals are sentient beings who should live good lives. Bans on cage farming and shorter transport times are concrete expressions of exactly that, and the plan requires ambitious goals that are monitored with strict legislation rather than waiting. The plan wants Sweden to act actively in the EU to drive through such tightening.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att all djurhållning ska utgå från att djur är kännande varelser som ska leva goda liv. Förbud mot burhållning och kortare transporttider är konkreta uttryck för just det, och planen kräver ambitiösa mål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning snarare än avvaktan. Planen vill att Sverige agerar aktivt i EU för att driva igenom sådana skärpningar.
- animals are sentient beingsdecisive»All djurhållning ska utgå från att djur är kännande varelser som ska leva goda liv.« (party programme ↗)“All animal husbandry shall be based on the fact that animals are sentient beings who should live good lives.”
- strict legislation ahead of waiting»Vi vill se ambitiösa miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see ambitious environmental goals that are monitored with strict legislation and practical work.”
- sustainable agriculture»Jordbrukets långsiktiga hållbarhet är viktig för både ekosystemen och Sveriges ekonomiska självständighet.« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture's long-term sustainability is important for both ecosystems and Sweden's economic independence.”
- active action in the EU»Vi agerar pragmatiskt för att både förändra inom ramen för EU:s strukturer och utmana dem, beroende på situationen.« (party programme ↗)“We act pragmatically to both change within the framework of the EU's structures and challenge them, depending on the situation.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme requires a reorientation of the EU's agricultural policy where ethical animal husbandry is a fundamental principle and the consumer perspective takes precedence over producer interests.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires a reorientation of the EU's agricultural policy where ethical animal husbandry is a fundamental principle and the consumer perspective takes precedence over producer interests. The counter-proposal's demands for cage bans, shorter transport times and clear animal welfare responsibility are concrete expressions of the same line, and the plan furthermore wants the EU's rules to be tightened and member countries to be able to move ahead. The plan therefore supports the demand in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver en omläggning av EU:s jordbrukspolitik där etisk djurhållning är en grundprincip och konsumentperspektivet går före producentintresset. Motförslagets krav på burförbud, kortare transporttider och ett tydligt djurvälfärdsansvar är konkreta uttryck för samma linje, och planen vill dessutom att EU:s regler skärps och att medlemsländer kan gå före. Planen stöder därför kravet i sak.
- ethical animal husbandry as a fundamental principledecisive»och etisk djurhållning är grundprinciper.« (party programme ↗)“and ethical animal husbandry are fundamental principles.”
- reoriented agricultural policy»en omläggning av jordbruks- och fiskeripolitiken« (party programme ↗)“a reorientation of agricultural and fisheries policy”
- tightened EU policy»måste EU:s miljöpolitik ytterligare utvecklas« (party programme ↗)“the EU's environmental policy must be further developed”
- EU as an arena for solutions»Vi är övertygade om att EU-samarbetet är grunden för att lösa många av vår tids svåraste problem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are convinced that EU cooperation is the foundation for solving many of today's most difficult problems.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan explicitly requires a ban on cage farming of hens, that suffering of animals in transport and slaughter is minimized and that animal protection in the EU is significantly tightened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires a ban on cage farming of hens, that suffering of animals in transport and slaughter is minimized and that animal protection in the EU is significantly tightened. The counter-proposal's demands for a cage ban, shorter transport times and a designated animal welfare officer are the same substance. The party programme further wants Sweden to actively drive high animal protection standards within the entire union.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen förbud mot burhållning av höns, att djurs lidande vid transport och slakt minimeras och att djurskyddet i EU skärps rejält. Motförslagets krav på burförbud, kortare transporttider och en särskild ansvarig för djurvälfärd är samma sak i sak. Partiprogrammet vill dessutom att Sverige aktivt driver höga djurskyddsstandarder inom hela unionen.
- ban on cage farmingdecisive»förbjuda burhållning av höns.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“prohibit cage farming of hens.”
- shorter animal transports»minimera djurs lidande vid transport och slakt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“minimize animal suffering in transport and slaughter.”
- tightened animal protection in the EU»Djurskyddet i EU måste skärpas rejält.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Animal protection in the EU must be significantly tightened.”
- drive high EU standards»Sverige arbeta aktivt inom EU för att höga« (party programme ↗)“Sweden work actively within the EU for high”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that mankind has a particular responsibility for animals and that food policy shall follow the animal protection directives, and that stricter requirements on environment and conditions shall be set in trade policy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that mankind has a particular responsibility for animals and that food policy shall follow the animal protection directives, and that stricter requirements on environment and conditions shall be set in trade policy. The counter-proposal wants to push for concrete EU tightening such as cage bans and shorter transport times, which both raises animal protection and gives Swedish farmers fairer competition. It aligns with the commitment to strengthen the green industries' competitiveness. The plan therefore supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att människan har ett särskilt ansvar för djuren och att livsmedelspolitiken ska följa djurskyddsdirektiven, samt att hårdare krav på miljö och villkor ska ställas i handelspolitiken. Motförslaget vill driva på för konkreta EU-skärpningar som burförbud och kortare transporttider, vilket både höjer djurskyddet och ger svenska bönder rättvisare konkurrens. Det ligger i linje med åtagandet att stärka de gröna näringarnas konkurrenskraft. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- responsibility for animalsdecisive»Människan har ett särskilt ansvar att agera så att andra levande varelser också kan fortleva.« (party programme ↗)“Mankind has a particular responsibility to act so that other living creatures can also continue to exist.”
- animal protection directives shall be followed»har som mål att skapa tillgång till trygga livsmedel – närproducerade och i enlighet med djurskyddsdirektiven« (party programme ↗)“has the aim of creating access to safe food – locally produced and in accordance with animal protection directives”
- stricter requirements in trade»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set stricter requirements on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- fair competition for farming»Vi vill stärka de gröna näringarnas konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen the green industries' competitiveness.”
The party programme establishes that all animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and a decent death and that control of compliance with national laws and EU rules must be sharpened.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that all animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and a decent death and that control of compliance with national laws and EU rules must be sharpened. In the EU, considerations for public health shall weigh more heavily than agricultural interests, and agricultural policy needs fundamental reform. Concrete tightening such as cage bans and shorter transport times thus align with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att all djurhållning måste garantera djuren ett värdigt liv och en anständig död och att kontrollen av att nationella lagar och EU-regler efterlevs måste skärpas. I EU ska hänsynen till folkhälsan väga tyngre än jordbruksintressen, och jordbrukspolitiken behöver reformeras i grunden. Konkreta skärpningar som burförbud och kortare transporttider ligger därför i linje med planen.
- dignified life for animalsdecisive»All djurhållning måste garantera djuren ett värdigt liv och en anständig död. Kontrollen av att« (party programme ↗)“All animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and a decent death. Control of”
- sharpened animal welfare control»nationella lagar och EU-regler efterlevs måste skärpas.« (party programme ↗)“national laws and EU rules are complied with must be sharpened.”
- public health before agricultural interests»I EU ska hänsynen till folkhälsan väga tyngre än jordbruksintressen.« (party programme ↗)“In the EU, considerations for public health shall weigh more heavily than agricultural interests.”
- reformed agricultural policy»EU:s jordbrukspolitik behöver reformeras i grunden.« (party programme ↗)“The EU's agricultural policy needs fundamental reform.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that long-distance animal transport should be avoided to the greatest extent possible, that unnecessary suffering should not occur and that animal husbandry should account for animals' physiological and behavioural needs, which entails requirements for shorter transport times and against cage housing.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that long-distance animal transport should be avoided to the greatest extent possible, that unnecessary suffering should not occur and that animal husbandry should account for animals' physiological and behavioural needs, which entails requirements for shorter transport times and against cage housing. The plan also wants the EU's agricultural policy to guarantee good animal husbandry and that the industry receives equivalent competitive conditions, which is the counter-proposal's second rationale.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att långväga djurtransporter ska undvikas i största möjliga utsträckning, att onödigt lidande inte ska förekomma och att djurhållning ska ta hänsyn till djurens fysiologiska och beteendemässiga behov, vilket bär kraven på kortare transporttider och mot burhållning. Planen vill dessutom att EU:s jordbrukspolitik garanterar god djurhållning och att näringen får likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor, vilket är motförslagets andra motiv.
- avoid long animal transportdecisive»Långväga djurtransporter ska undvikas i största möjliga utsträckning.« (party programme ↗)“Long-distance animal transport shall be avoided to the greatest extent possible.”
- animals' behavioural needs»djurens hälsa främjas och hänsyn tas till djurens fysiologiska och beteendemässiga behov« (party programme ↗)“animals' health is promoted and account is taken of animals' physiological and behavioural needs”
- EU agriculture with good animal husbandry»för biologisk mångfald, god djurhållning och livsmedel« (party programme ↗)“for biological diversity, good animal husbandry and food”
- equivalent competitive conditions»näringar ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot« (party programme ↗)“industries are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The counter-proposal requires Sweden to push for concrete EU tightening such as a ban on cages and shorter transport times.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires Sweden to push for concrete EU tightening such as a ban on cages and shorter transport times. The plan's line for agriculture and animal husbandry is to support, not steer: the number of regulations for agriculture shall decrease and costs for administration go down, and EU rules shall as a main rule be implemented at minimum level without over-implementation. New binding requirements thus lie outside the plan's direction, which rejects the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att Sverige driver på för konkreta EU-skärpningar som burförbud och kortare transporttider. Planens linje för jord- och djurhållning är att stötta, inte styra: antalet regler för jordbruket ska minska och kostnaderna för administration gå ner, och EU-regler ska som huvudregel genomföras på miniminivå utan överimplementering. Nya bindande krav ligger därför utanför planens riktning, som avvisar kravet.
- support not steer agriculturedecisive»Vi ska stötta, inte styra, jord- och skogsbruket« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall support, not steer, agriculture and forestry”
- fewer agriculture regulations»Minska antalet regler för jordbruket och korta handläggningstider för miljötillstånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the number of regulations for agriculture and shorten processing times for environmental permits”
- EU rules at minimum level»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by counteracting over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions - as a main rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”
- lower costs for agriculture»Moderaterna vill förbättra förutsättningarna att driva lantbruk genom att sänka skatterna, vilket vi redan börjat göra på drivmedel, och minska regelkrånglet så att kostnaderna för administration går ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to improve conditions for running agriculture by lowering taxes, which we have already begun to do on fuel, and reduce red tape so that costs for administration go down.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan's ambition is that Swedish standards for animal husbandry should become the standard for the entire EU, which is exactly what the counter-proposal drives.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's ambition is that Swedish standards for animal husbandry should become the standard for the entire EU, which is exactly what the counter-proposal drives. The plan furthermore wants to prohibit export and import of live animals for slaughter to reduce painful transports and prevent poor animal husbandry from becoming a competitive advantage, which responds to demands for shorter transport times and fairer competition. Tightened EU requirements in the animal welfare area are therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planens ambition är att svensk standard för djurhållning ska bli standard för hela EU, vilket är precis vad motförslaget driver. Planen vill dessutom förbjuda export och import av levande djur för slakt för att minska plågsamma transporter och hindra att dålig djurhållning blir en konkurrensfördel, vilket svarar mot kraven på kortare transporttider och rättvisare konkurrens. Skärpta EU-krav på djurskyddsområdet stöds därför av planen.
- Swedish animal welfare standard in the EUdecisive»Sverigedemokraternas ambition är att svensk standard vad gäller djurhållning ska bli standard för hela EU.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats' ambition is that Swedish standards regarding animal husbandry should become the standard for the entire EU.”
- shorter animal transports»Förbud av export och import av levande djur för slakt bör också införas för att minska plågsamma transporter och säkerställa att dålig djurhållning inte blir en konkurrensfördel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A ban on export and import of live animals for slaughter should also be introduced to reduce painful transports and ensure that poor animal husbandry does not become a competitive advantage.”
- compensation for higher standard»Sverigedemokraterna vill också ersätta djurhållare som håller en högre standard för djurhållning än vad som gäller i EU generellt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats also want to compensate animal keepers who maintain a higher standard for animal husbandry than generally applies in the EU”
- animals' legal status»Stärka djurs rättsliga skydd och status« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen animals' legal protection and status”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:MJU10)
- Committee report full text (HC01MJU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1020 — Ny djurskötarutbildning av Kerstin Lundgren (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1024 — Små slakterier av Anders W Jonsson (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1308 — Myndighet och minister för djurskydd av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1373 — Livsmedel av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1395 — Jordbruk - ökad konkurrenskraft utan förlust av biologisk mångfald av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1397 — Djurskydd av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1533 — Fler veterinärer i Sverige av Alexandra Anstrell m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1750 — Utfasning av turbokycklingar av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1751 — Förbud mot avlivning av hankycklingar av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1752 — Förbud mot burhållning av hönor av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1770 — Betesrätten av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:195 — Konsumenträtt av Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1983 — Trygga köp av hundburar av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2129 — Grisars rätt till ett värdigt liv av Sanna Backeskog m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:215 — Omhändertagande av djur som far illa av Lina Nordquist (L)
- Motion 2024/25:2291 — Förbud mot särskilt farliga hundraser av Fredrik Kärrholm (M)
- Motion 2024/25:234 — Förbud mot halal- och koscherslakt av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2484 — Virtuella stängsel av Stina Larsson och Helena Vilhelmsson (båda C)
- Motion 2024/25:2536 — Djurtillsyn av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2599 — Tillträde till bostäder i djurskyddsärenden av Jan Ericson (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament