The Basque Government Council has given the green light this Tuesday to a new call for aid aimed at financing the obtaining of animal welfare certifications for the year 2026. With this measure, the Department of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries seeks to extend the use of certification systems that "accredit good practices in animal welfare" on livestock farms in Euskadi.
These subsidies will cover part of the costs associated with the certification process, such as the implementation of self-control systems, the training of responsible persons, the drafting of the required procedures, and the carrying out of internal audits. Only actions carried out on farms located in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and aimed at obtaining a certificate based on the direct evaluation of animal welfare will be supported.
Through this call, the regional Executive intends to consolidate a livestock model based on "continuous improvement, differentiated quality and sustainability," facilitating farms to objectively demonstrate that they meet high levels of animal welfare, a factor that is gaining importance among citizens and in the markets.
Both natural and legal persons who meet the conditions set out in the order and carry out their activity in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country may apply for the aid. It will be mandatory to submit a detailed plan with the planned actions to achieve the corresponding certification. The deadline for registering applications will be one month from the publication of the Order in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country.
This line of support is integrated into the department's strategy to strengthen livestock production that is "more competitive, sustainable and aligned with the demands of consumers and markets," promoting production systems that ensure animal welfare and enhance the prestige of the Basque livestock sector.