The Court finds the 17-year transition period for the ban on slatted floors too long and not objectively justifiable.
The Constitutional Court has not set a new date; Minister of Animal Protection Johannes Rauch (Greens) now proposes a deadline of July 2030, with a transition phase starting in July 2025.
In addition, origin labeling must be introduced in the Austrian hospitality industry so that consumers can consciously choose Austrian meat, according to the Austrian coalition of the conservative ÖVP and the Greens. Rauch urged for a quick agreement.
There are 20,000 pig farms in Austria, two-thirds of which are fattening pig operations, that are now affected. Austrian agricultural organizations are fighting against this.
The Court's decision has led to divided reactions. Animal rights advocates welcome the shortening of the transition period. They push for a rapid adjustment of legislation. They also call for increased subsidies to enable pig farmers to quickly switch to more animal-friendly stable systems.
Reactions in Austrian politics are also mixed. While the Greens see the Court's ruling as a victory for animal protection, representatives from other parties, such as the SPÖ, emphasize the need for a balanced approach.
Pig farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture also express concern. They stress that such an abrupt change could have serious consequences for the sector. The Association of Austrian Pig Farmers (VÖS) questions whether the proposed measures are feasible and warns of potential negative effects on Austrian meat production.
Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) stressed that the supply of local food, animal welfare, and the survival of farms must be guaranteed: "We must not endanger our Austrian schnitzel and become dependent on imports from abroad."