The RSPCA Assured scheme has ambitious goals to ensure the welfare of farmed animals in the UK improves substantially in the coming decades.
Launched in 1994, RSPCA Assured currently covers only 26% of farmed animals, but aims to raise this percentage to 36% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. This initiative was detailed in a recent impact report, which revealed that last year, over 64 million animals adhered to its welfare standards.
With more than 1,800 labelled products distributed through major retailers like Aldi, Co-op, and Tesco, as well as restaurants including McDonald’s and Wagamama, the influence of RSPCA Assured is steadily increasing.
However, while there is strong farmer support in the egg and turkey sectors, engagement is significantly lower in the poultry meat industry.
Toby Baker, executive director of RSPCA Assured, expressed a strong commitment to improving animal welfare: “We want to make higher welfare the norm, not the exception. By 2050, we’re determined that more than half of the UK farmed animals will have better lives under these standards.”
Growth in Animal Welfare Standards
The report indicates:
- Over 34 million terrestrial animals were part of RSPCA Assured in 2024, alongside more than 30 million salmon.
- An estimated 8% increase in animal coverage on the scheme, signifying an additional 5 million animals reared under higher welfare conditions.
- 14% increase in farm visits conducted to ensure compliance with standards, totaling 3,642 assessments from June 2024 to June 2025.
Consumer Demand for Higher Welfare Products
Recent research shows that 62% of UK consumers are willing to pay a premium for higher-welfare labelled products, including RSPCA Assured options.
With over 4,000 members—from farmers to processors—RSPCA Assured plays a critical role in promoting animal welfare throughout the supply chain.
According to Steve McLean of Marks and Spencer, the RSPCA Assured label is easily recognizable and instills consumer confidence that products meet high welfare standards.
RSPCA Welfare Standards Explained
Key improvements introduced in the welfare standards for both egg and poultry meat sectors include:
- A mandatory shift to slower-growing chicken breeds, which helps prevent health issues and promotes natural behaviors.
- A complete ban on all cage systems.
With over 830 welfare standards in place, meat chickens must be reared in barns with ample natural light, and many are given outdoor access. In contrast, egg producers must adhere to 800 specific welfare standards, ensuring hens thrive in spacious environments that facilitate natural behaviors like scratching and dust bathing.
Turkey production is also held to high standards, with over 700 requirements to ensure birds live in free-range or organic conditions, or in barns that provide ample space and natural light.
