GAIA survey: “Seven out of ten Belgians want stricter animal welfare legislation” | interior

The survey was conducted by GAIA on its 30th anniversary by market research agency Ipsos, which in April of this year collected online interviews from 1,650 Belgians, spread across all provinces. This shows that seven in ten Belgians are (extremely) concerned about animal suffering, and more than nine in ten are at least “a little concerned”.

Although 64 percent of respondents said animal welfare legislation has improved in recent years, 74 percent think the legislation should be stricter. For eight in ten citizens — including 86 percent between the ages of 18 and 36 — political leaders need to take more action on animal rights.

It is also remarkable that, compared to the inhabitants of the Flemish and Brussels, the Walloon attaches more importance to the dignity of animals, the fight against animal suffering and stricter legislation in this regard.

Furthermore, the survey shows that four out of ten Belgians find killing animals for medical and scientific research a problem. Almost as many Belgians support this view with regard to meat production, while the killing of animals for agricultural economic reasons is also a problem for 46 percent.

For three-quarters of the Flemish population, cages (batteries) for laying hens should be prohibited. There is already a ban in Wallonia.