Why Do Farm Animal Welfare Regulations Vary Between EU Member States? A Comparative Analysis of Societal and Party Political Determinants in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK

In the field of agricultural policy, farm animal welfare is gaining importance. At the European Union level, animal welfare policies have been developing since the 1970s. However, national regulations vary considerably between member states. The study provides a systematic comparison of farm animal welfare regulations in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK and explores the factors that influence differences by applying theories from comparative policy analysis. Firstly, in four of the five countries the level of societal concern influences animal welfare policies. Secondly, a connection between the level of societal concern and the emphasis of political parties on farm animal welfare is identified. The findings contribute to the exploration of a hitherto under-researched area in public policy, the field of farm animal welfare.