Animal Husbandry Labelling Act – an overview of husbandry methods

^{As of June 2024}

The new Animal Husbandry Identification Act (TierHaltKennzG) has been in force since 24 August 2023. Pig farmers must register their farming methods and fattening facilities with the relevant authority by 1 August 2024. It is still unclear how the registration process will work and which authority is responsible in the respective federal states (as of 4 June 2024).

The requirements of the national Animal Husbandry Labelling Act differ from the criteria of the Animal Welfare Initiative and other branded meat schemes.

The following table sets out the requirements for the five farming systems:

Housing system	Space allowance	Other requirements
Housing type: Indoor	Complies with the Animal Welfare (Livestock) Regulation: 30–50 kg: 0.5 m² 50–110 kg: 0.75 m² Over 110 kg: 1 m²	Organic, fibre-rich enrichment material
Housing type: Stable + outdoor area	Floor area: 30–50 kg: 0.563 m² 50–110 kg: 0.844 m² Over 110 kg: 1.125 m² Lying area: 30–50 kg: 0.3 m² 50–110 kg: 0.6 m² Over 110 kg: 0.9 m²	Organic, fibre-rich enrichment material Roughage Plus 3 of the following items: Contact grids to pigs from another group Partition walls within the pen Raised level Microclimate area Varied lighting conditions Scratching posts Open drinkers for up to 24 fattening pigs Soft or bedded lying area with a maximum perforation rate of 5%
Housing type: Open-air barn	Floor area: 30–50 kg: 0.7 m² 50–120 kg: 1.3 m² Over 120 kg: 1.5 m² Floor area including outdoor run: 30–50 kg: 0.7 m² 50–120 kg: 1.1 m² Over 120 kg: 1.4 m²	The outdoor climate has a significant influence on the barn climate and Different climate zones and Organic, fibre-rich enrichment material Or: Animals have access to outdoor space at all times
Housing type: outdoor access/grazing	Floor area in the barn: 30–50 kg: 0.5 m² 50–120 kg: 1 m² Over 120 kg: 1.5 m² Floor space in outdoor run: 30–50 kg: 0.25 m² 50–120 kg: 0.5 m² Over 120 kg: 0.8 m²	Organic, fibre-rich enrichment material and Littered resting area Most of the floor area covered Access to the outdoor run at all times Or: Permanent outdoor rearing without a fixed housing Organic, fibre-rich enrichment material
Organic	Complies with the EU Organic Regulation Housing area: 35–50 kg: 0.8 m² 50–85 kg: 1.1 m² 85–110 kg: 1.3 m² Over 110 kg: 1.5 m² Outdoor area: 35–50 kg: 0.6 m² 50–85 kg: 0.8 m² 85–110 kg: 1 m² Over 110 kg: 1.2 m²	Requirements in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation, including, amongst others Feeding with organic feed Roughage Littered resting area Max. 50% slatted flooring Permanent access to outdoor run (partial roofing permitted)

You can find detailed information here.

If you have any further questions or require advice, please contact your usual point of contact at the regional agricultural offices.

Further topics Animal welfare pig