The following lists 20 special requirements and initiatives that are in force in Denmark.

Denmark complies with all the EU’s animal welfare requirements, but in a large number of respects we exceed them. This is to create a better environment for our livestock than most other EU countries. Every time we build a new housing unit, we go one step further for animal welfare. Denmark has 20 special requirements and initiatives that go beyond EU legislation and exceed the requirements under which pigs are produced in the rest of the EU.   

1. Loose housing in farrowing pens
Danish pig production is the foremost in the EU for building loose housing in farrowing pens as the result of a voluntary initiative (9711 farrowing pens as of 1 January 2024). It is expected that, with effect from 1 January 2025, a legal requirement will come into effect for loose housing in the farrowing section for new housing units, with a transitional arrangement for existing units.

2. Loose- housing systems in all new service units
Since 2015, all new service units in Denmark have been designed for loose- housing systems and this will apply to all housing from 2035. Only Sweden, Germany, Norway and the UK have a similar legal requirement. 

3. Intact tails
With effect from 1 January 2025, a redistribution model will come into force whereby pig producers who keep pigs with intact tails will receive cost compensation from pig producers who continue to tail dock. The aim is to reach 4 million pigs with intact tails before the end of 2028. 

4. Sprinkling systems for pigs over 20 kg
All housing units are required to have sprinkling systems for pigs over 20 kg to ensure their welfare and a good indoor climate. 

5. Enrichment AND rooting materials are required in all housing units
Enrichment and rooting materials must be of natural origin, e.g. straw, wood or other natural material.

6. If piglets are castrated local anaesthesia and long-lasting pain relief are required
Since the end of 2018, local anaesthesia and long-lasting pain relief for piglet castration have been an industry requirement. From 1 January 2025, it will become a legal requirement in Denmark. EU legislation still allows castration without anaesthesia and pain relief.  

7. Focus on entire male pigs
The percentage of entire male pigs (pigs that are not castrated) slaughtered in Denmark is around 30%. 

8. Bedding is required in the resting area for gestating sows

9. No fully slatted flooring
Solid or slatted flooring for piglets (50 per cent of the area) and finishers (30 per cent of the area) is required. Fully slatted flooring is not allowed. This is to ensure that pigs have a comfortable resting area. The rest of the EU has no requirements for solid or slatted flooring for piglets and finishers. 

10. Number of hospital pens is managed
There is a specific requirement for the number of hospital pens for gestating sows. For other groups, a vacant space in a hospital pen must always be available. 

11. Requirements for the design of hospital pens
A soft lying area, a heat source and a cooling system are required in all hospital pens. There are no specific requirements for the design of hospital pens across the EU. 

12. Additional authorities
In addition to the authorities undertaking inspection visits to housing units, an independent third-party inspection is carried out under the auspices of the industry at all Danish pig farms to ensure that animal welfare and food safety requirements are complied with. All herds are inspected at least every three years. A third are checked every year because they are covered by special labelling schemes for pig meat. 

13. Health advice
Requirement for health advice. A health advisory agreement with a veterinarian must be in place in all large herds (300 sows). This is to ensure better animal welfare and to create confidence in the use of medicine for animals.

14. Sale of medicine only through the pharmacy
In Denmark, veterinarians are not permitted to earn money from prescriptions. The distribution of sale is strictly managed through the pharmacies. Veterinarians are permitted to prescribe and sell medicine in many other EU countries.  

15. Traffic-light regulation in veterinary medicine consumption
Issue of a so-called yellow card for producers whose use of medicine exceeds the stipulated limits determined by the authorities.

16. Strictly regulated administration of veterinary medicinal products
All stockpersons must have passed a medicine handling course if they handle animal medicine.

17. Voluntary phase-out of critically important antibiotics
The pig industry introduced a voluntary ban on the use of cephalosporines in 2010. These are critically important antibiotics in the treatment of humans. Cephalosporines are still used in pig production in the rest of the EU.

18. Improved animal welfare during transport and shorter transport times
Requirement concerning a maximum of eight hours transport for sows, and more rigorous requirements for the design of vehicles for transporting sows and pigs to the slaughterhouse (mechanical ventilation, access to drinking water, GPS equipment). In the EU, the requirements only apply to long journeys. On average, the majority of Danish pigs are transported to the slaughterhouse under four hours. 

19. More space for piglets in the truck
20 per cent extra space required when transporting piglets for more than eight hours compared to what is stipulated by the EU. 

20. University in Denmark wants to examine animal welfare standards for European pigs
Copenhagen University has benchmarked animal welfare in Danish pig production compared to the Netherlands, UK, Sweden and Germany. Together with the Netherlands, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), Denmark exceeds the EU in terms of national requirements and standards for animal welfare while Sweden is at the top in terms of national production.

https://dyreetik.ku.dk/benchmark-for-dyrevelfaerd/benchmark-gris/