Flemish agricultural organizations have expressed concerns about a new animal welfare codex, which is up for a parliamentary vote on May 2. The codex aims to replace the 1986 Flemish Animal Welfare Act and has already been approved by the Animal Welfare Committee. However, the agricultural organizations warn against Article 7, which seeks to include animal protection as 'sentient beings' in the constitution. They argue that this could lead to legal uncertainty and unfair competition, especially in the chicken sector due to increased production costs. The codex also mandates measures like banning the trading of animals on public roads and markets, which could result in the closure of livestock markets, leading to a positive impact on animal welfare but challenging the livestock market industry.