Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 0578
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0094/DK
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20260578.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0094 DK EN 26-02-2026 DK NOTIF
2. Denmark
3A. Erhvervsstyrelsen
Langelinie Allé 17
2100 Købehavn Ø
Danmark
+45 35 29 10 00
notifikationer@erst.dk
3B. Styrelsen for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri
Stationsparken 31-33
2600 Glostrup
Danmark
+45 27 69 00
4. 2026/0094/DK - C90A - Well-being of animals and pets
5. Draft Order on minimum animal welfare requirements for the keeping of cattle.
6. The draft Order concerns minimum animal welfare requirements for the keeping of cattle.
7.
8. This is an amendment to an existing Order. The amendment concerns requirements for floor space and passage width in stalls for dairy cattle and their offspring, as well as the possibility of using virtual fencing for cattle as an alternative to physical fencing.
Virtual fencing
Section 27 of the Cattle Order prohibits the use of remotely controlled or automatically acting units which are attached to the bovine animal and which, when activated, cause an electric shock or other significant inconvenience to the bovine animal. The content of this provision has previously been notified in accordance with the Information Procedure Directive.
The amendment introduces in § 28 an exception to the prohibition in § 27, according to which remote-controlled or automatically operating units carried by the cattle, which can emit sound signals and subsequently apply electrical impulses to the cattle, may be used as part of virtual fencing of cattle when the following conditions are met:
• The physical design of the unit must not cause discomfort to the animal.
• The maximum electrical pulse applied to the bovine animal by the unit is 0.2 joules.
• The electrical impulse from the unit may only be applied to the animal when it is touching the boundary of the virtual fence.
• The aggregate shall, before applying an electrical impulse to the cattle, emit warning sounds to the animal.
• Before the cattle are permanently released into a virtual enclosure, the cattle must undergo a training period during which the cattle learn to adapt to the virtual fencing through the audible signals and electrical impulses of the unit.
• Cattle that do not adapt to the virtual fencing during the training period and which therefore continue to regularly receive electrical impulses from the coating shall be removed from the virtual fencing.
Area requirements in stalls for dairy cattle and their offspring
Since 2010, Denmark has had a comprehensive and detailed regulation of minimum animal welfare requirements for the keeping of dairy cattle and their offspring. A significant part of the regulation is covered by transitional arrangements, the last of which expire in 2034.
In response to a request from the industry, the Minister has decided that amendments should be made to the Order on four points. This is to ensure that certain stalls built before 2010 for dairy herds can continue to be used beyond 2034.
The four points are as follows:
• Stalls that were put into use for dairy cows before 2010 may in future be used for young animals instead, provided that the stall meets the requirements for the width of walking areas that were applicable as industry standards in 2001 (Section 107).
• Requirements for the width of passageways for small breeds of dairy cattle are set that are narrower than the requirements that apply to large breeds, ensuring that stables built before 2010 can continue to be used for small breeds after 2034 (Section 68).
• It is permitted to count the available outdoor area as part of the total area of the stall (Section 60).
• It is permitted to reduce the walking width of stalls brought into use before 2010 on condition that the total area per cow is increased (Section 59).
9. Virtual fencing
The possibility of using virtual fencing is introduced on the basis of a four-year trial, which has given rise to the assessment by the Danish Agency for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in the summer of 2025 that virtual fencing does not adversely affect animal welfare in cattle and can therefore be used in Denmark to fence cattle. At present, herd owners who wish to use virtual fencing for cattle must apply for an exemption from the Danish Agency for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Virtual fencing makes it easier to adapt grazing areas as needed, especially in natural areas that are difficult to fence traditionally.
Area requirement for dairy cattle
Since 2010, Denmark has had a comprehensive and detailed regulation of minimum animal welfare requirements for the keeping of dairy cattle and their offspring. A substantial part of the regulation is subject to transitional arrangements, the last of which expire in 2034.
On the basis of a request from the industry for a number of amendments to the Cattle Order, the Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has decided that amendments should be made to the Cattle Order to ensure that certain stalls for dairy cattle can continue to be used even after 2034. In assessing the proposed changes, the focus has been on ensuring that the changes do not have negative consequences for animal welfare.
10. References in the basic text:
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
