The Austrian Council of Ministers has approved changes to animal welfare laws, including bans on live chick shredding and bringing mammals to slaughter that are obviously in the last third of their pregnancy, unless for specific exceptions. The changes also include regulations on tail docking for pigs and new minimum standards for group housing of weaners, fattening pigs, and breeding pigs. The Transport Act now requires data transmission from retrospective controls of long-distance transports to third countries. These changes, part of a negotiated animal welfare package, will be supported by an annual investment of 120 million euros and an additional 20 million euros per year from the new common agricultural policy.