{"id":29911,"date":"2025-01-07T14:00:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chaire-bea.vetagro-sup.fr\/the-animal-welfare-timeline-milestones\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T13:29:18","slug":"the-animal-welfare-timeline-milestones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chaire-bea.vetagro-sup.fr\/en\/the-animal-welfare-timeline-milestones\/","title":{"rendered":"The Animal Welfare Timeline: Milestones"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Today, the notion of animal welfare is everywhere: in consumer and citizen expectations but also in the various specifications, regulations, marketing initiatives, farming systems\u2026<\/p>\n

But recognition of the sensitive nature of animals and their ability to feel emotions goes back a long way. Scroll down to discover some key dates in the history of animal welfare awareness and regulation!<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Regulatory<\/strong> milestones <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Scientific<\/strong> milestones<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1755<\/div><\/div>
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/div>

The philosophical tradition<\/h4>

\"\"<\/p>

During the Enlightenment, the notion of \u00ab sensitive animal \u00bb appeared in the Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men:<\/em><\/p>

\u00ab It appears, in fact, that if I am bound to do no injury to my fellow-creatures, this is less because they are rational than because they are sentient beings:<\/strong> and this quality, being common both to men and beasts, ought to entitle the latter at least to the privilege of not being want only ill-treated by the former \u00bb<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1755<\/div><\/div>
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Jeremy Bentham \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<\/div>

\"Jeremy<\/p>

At the same time, the English philosopher wrote about animals in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation<\/em>:<\/p>

\"The question is not, \u2018Can they reason?\u2019 nor \u2018Can they speak?\u2019 but \u2018Can they suffer?<\/strong><\/em>\u2019\"<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1824<\/div><\/div>
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First Animal Protection Associations \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<\/div>

1824:<\/strong> Creation of the first animal protection association in the United Kingdom<\/strong>, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>

It was quickly followed by the creation of the SPA (Animal Protection Society) in France in 1845<\/strong> by Etienne Pariset. His first fight was the protection of horses mistreated by Parisian coachmen.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1850<\/div><\/div>
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Grammont Law \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/div>

It is the first animal protection law<\/h4>

\"\"It condemns public<\/strong> abuses<\/strong> against domestic animals.<\/p>

It wasn't until 1959, with the Michelet decree<\/strong>, that abuse in private was also condemned.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1959<\/div><\/div>
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Russel et Burch \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<\/div>

The founding texts<\/h4>

\"RusselIn their book on the ethical treatment of laboratory animals<\/strong>, \u00ab Principles of Human Experimental Technique, \u00bb<\/em> these two biologists outlined the 3Rs<\/strong>: Replacement <\/strong> of animals in research, Reduction<\/strong> of the number of animals used, and Refinement<\/strong> of experiments whenever possible.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1964<\/div><\/div>
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Ruth Harrisson \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<\/div>

\"\"She published a reference book on farm animals: \u00ab Animal Machines, The New Factory Farming Industry <\/em>\u00bb where she denounced living conditions in intensive animal farming.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1965<\/div><\/div>
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The Brambell Report \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/div>

\"\"This report defines the basic needs of farm animals to be fulfilled. It is the basis for the 5 freedoms<\/strong><\/a> and the modern assessment of animal welfare<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1975<\/div><\/div>
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Peter Singer <\/div>

\"\"Peter Singer published \u00ab Animal Liberation <\/em>\u00bb, which had a founding role in the development of the animal rights <\/strong>movement.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1976<\/div><\/div>
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French regulations \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7<\/div>

The notion of sensitive being appears in the rural code\u2019s law of July 10, 1976:<\/strong><\/p>

Article L214.1:<\/strong> \u201cAny animal as a sensitive being must be placed by its owner in conditions compatible with the biological imperatives of its species\u201d.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1979<\/div><\/div>
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The five freedoms \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<\/div>