Spain establishes new housing densities for farms without tail docking

The Spanish Government has approved Royal Decree 809/2025, of September 16, which amends Royal Decree 1135/2002 on minimum standards for the protection of pigs. This new regulation adjusts some aspects introduced in 2023 and establishes a classification of pig farms into three types, based on the management of tail docking and the level of animal welfare achieved. Type 1 farms, which keep all animals with their tails intact, will be able to apply less restrictive housing densities, reverting to the values established by Directive 2008/120/EC. On the other hand, Type 3 farms (which generally still practice tail docking) will have to continue to comply with the stricter housing densities established in 2023. The decree also creates an intermediate category, Type 2, for farms that still have some animals with docked tails but have implemented animal welfare improvement plans. These farms will be able to maintain slightly higher housing densities if they demonstrate compliance with ...