The new legislation, Directive (EC) 2001/88, adopted by the Council of the European Union in 2001, introduces a mandatory ban on the use of individual sow stalls for pregnant sows and gilts during a period starting from four weeks after service to one week before the expected time of farrowing for all pig producers.

This method of intensive pig farming is the cause to severe welfare problems due to insufficient space and lack of foraging and nest building material.

However, the new legislation does not address all animal welfare concerns in intensive production of pork, says Eurogroup for Animals. It is therefore essential that consumers insist on higher welfare products, which as a result can influence the entire food supply chain and support more producers to improve their practices and ultimately more pigs will benefit.