Three Types of Farms — Different Welfare Conditions
Type 1 — farms where all pigs are kept with intact tails. These farms will be allowed to operate under less restrictive density limits, reverting to the standards set by EU Directive 2008/120/EC.
Type 2 — an intermediate category for farms that still have some pigs with docked tails but are implementing animal welfare improvement plans. These farms may be granted permission to maintain slightly higher densities if they:
- have an approved animal welfare plan;
- use automatic systems for temperature and air quality control;
- limit antibiotic use;
- and provide environmental enrichment materials for at least 86% of the animals.
Type 3 — farms that continue to practice routine tail docking must comply with the stricter density standards introduced in 2023.
Additional Requirements
The new decree also stipulates that:
- at least 2.5% of total space must be reserved for isolation of sick or injured animals;
- the minimum number of feeding and drinking points must be adjusted according to animal size and group composition.
Implementation
Royal Decree No. 809/2025 will enter into force on March 9, 2026. Its goal is to encourage farms to gradually abandon tail docking, enhancing animal welfare without reducing productivity.
The Spanish government emphasizes that these measures are part of a long-term strategy to align national legislation with EU animal welfare requirements and to support farmers adopting more humane and sustainable husbandry practices.
PigUA.info based on materials from pig333.com