EU long-term livestock strategy
- Biodiversity
- Sustainability/Due diligence
- Sustainable food systems
Summary
The European Commission has been inviting feedback to help shape its European Union (EU) livestock strategy. The new strategy will address the challenges facing the sector, in particular the lack of young farmers, while seeking to accelerate the transition to more sustainable production. The opportunity to give feedback via the Commission’s Have Your Say webpage closed on 10 April 2026.
EU invites feedback to help shape its long-term livestock strategy
EU strategy for livestock: Call for evidence
Update
The European Commission has been inviting feedback to help shape its European Union (EU) livestock strategy. The new strategy will address the challenges facing the sector, in particular the lack of young farmers, while seeking to accelerate the transition to more sustainable production. The opportunity to give feedback via the Commission’s Have Your Say webpage closed on 10 April 2026.
Impacted Products
Livestock and animal products
What is changing?
As announced in the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food and in the Commission work programme 2026, the EU is inviting input from stakeholders to help shape its long-term livestock strategy. The European Commission aims to address the weaknesses of the livestock sector, and contribute to a transition to more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable production, including improvements to animal welfare.
It will also assess better alignment of production requirements for imported products with existing EU requirements.
The feedback collected from this call for evidence and other consultations (e.g. through Expert Groups) will be summarised in a Commission communication. A plan is also under development for Reducing the plant protein deficit of the European Union.
Why?
The EU livestock sector plays an important social and economic role in food security and in the environment. The sector faces many challenges, including low profits for farmers, leading to reductions in herds and the loss of new generations of potential farmers. Current issues also include the implementation of animal welfare rules, the spread of animal diseases, and greenhouse gas emissions. These challenges require long-term solutions.
Timeline
The strategy is expected to be published in June 2026.
Recommended Actions
The opportunity to give feedback via the European Commission’s Have Your Say webpage closed on 10 April 2026.
Background
The livestock strategy will complement the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food and other initiatives, notably regarding Generational renewal in agriculture, the Bioeconomy Strategy, the Water Resilience Strategy, Digitalising the EU agricultural sector, and the Rural Action Plan.
Resources
Online resources from the European Commission:
Sources
EU strategy for livestock: Call for evidence
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
EU invites feedback to help shape its long-term livestock strategy
EU strategy for livestock: Call for evidence
What is changing and why?
The European Commission has been seeking feedback to help shape its long-term livestock strategy. The Commission aims to address the weaknesses of the livestock sector, and contribute to a transition to more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable production, including improvements to animal welfare. It will also assess better alignment of production requirements for imported products with existing European Union (EU) requirements.
The EU livestock sector faces many challenges, including low profits for farmers, leading to reductions in herds and a lack of young farmers. Current issues also include the implementation of animal welfare rules, the spread of animal diseases, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The feedback collected from this call for evidence will be taken into account in the Commission's strategy. A plan is also under development for Reducing the plant protein deficit of the European Union.
Actions
The opportunity to give feedback via the European Commission’s Have Your Say webpage closed on 10 April 2026.
Timeline
The strategy is expected to be published in June 2026.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.