Compassion in World Farming Logo

1967–2007: CIWF celebrates 40 years of achievement
 

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is a
non-government funded charity that relies entirely on the generosity of our worldwide network of supporters.

We campaign peacefully on their behalf to end cruel factory farming practices.

We believe that farm animals should not, and need not, suffer.

With billions of lives at the mercy of factory farming systems, CIWF’s mission is and, always has been, to advance the well being of farm animals worldwide.

To this end, CIWF now consists of a powerful network of representatives around the world, including Ireland, Holland, South Africa and Oceania.

We also co-ordinate the European Coalition for Farm Animals (ECFA), a campaigning and lobbying group of 32 organisations in 25 European countries and Israel.
 


In the beginning

In 1967, dairy farmer Peter Roberts and his wife Anna decided to ‘take on the establishment’ from their family home to end the suffering inflicted on farm animals as a result of the ‘new’ systems of intensive farming. Little did he know that within 40 years, this small animal welfare charity, Compassion in World Farming, would become the respected global campaigning organisation it is today.

40 years on

In 40 years, we have seen our list of supporters, patrons, celebrity supporters and high profile politicians grow. Their unwavering support over the last 40 years has helped CIWF to investigate, campaign against and alleviate the suffering of millions of farm animals around the world to change legislation and the way people think about food and farming.

The next 40 years

 There are still many challenges we have to face if we are to realise our vision of a world where farm animals are treated with compassion and respect and where cruel factory farming practices end. We need to carry on in the way Peter started: peacefully and intelligently lobbying, with compassion and determination and continuing support.

CIWF-led campaigning and lobbying has led to many changes in farm animal welfare legislation.

Here are some of our highlights over the last 40 years: 

• March 2007

The 'Good Eggs' Award scheme is launched to recognise companies who stop using and selling eggs from caged hens.

• January 2007 Our 1990’s campaign to ban veal crates comes into effect across Europe.
• December 2005 Our ‘Stop the Bull Ship’ campaign leads to the EU eliminating export subsidies for farmers who transport live EU cattle to the Middle East with immediate effect.
©Peter Stevens
• November 2005 CIWF and the RSPCA organise the first-ever conference on pig welfare in Beijing. 200 delegates from Chinese government, universities and the food and farming industries attend.  
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March 2005

CIWF’s major international conference, From Darwin to Dawkins: the science and implications of animal sentience, attracts over 600 delegates from 50 countries and global media coverage.
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2004

Joyce D’Silva and Peter Stevenson are jointly awarded the RSPCA Lord Erskine Award for commitment to animal welfare.

 
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2002

CIWF’s founder, Peter Roberts, receives an MBE for services to animal welfare from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and becomes the first recipient of the BBC’s Animal Award for Services to Animal Welfare.

  
• 2002

The Irish government sets up the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, after petitioning by
CIWF-Ireland. Our Irish organiser, Mary-Anne Bartlett is invited to be a member.

  
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2001

The European Parliament votes for a maximum journey time of eight hours on all journeys of live animals for slaughter and further fattening (still to be endorsed by the Agriculture Ministers of the EU).
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2001

CIWF conducts its first survey of supermarket welfare standards and awards ‘Compassionate Supermarket of the Year’ to Marks & Spencer. 

 


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2001




1999


The EU bans sow stalls from 1 January 2013.




Sow stalls (gestation crates) and tethers become illegal in the UK.

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1999

Legislation is introduced to ban fur farming in the UK from 1 January 2003.

 
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1999


The EU agrees to ban barren battery cages from
1 January 2012 – this agreement is now at risk and we still need your help.

 Please support our campaign to Keep the Battery Cage Ban
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1997

Animals are legally recognised as Sentient Beings in the EU and an animal welfare Protocol is added to the European Treaty following CIWF’s ten-year campaign.

 
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1996

The EU agrees to phase-out veal crates for calves by 1 January 2007.

  
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1995

CIWF receives the British Environment and Media Award for the ‘Best Environmental Media Relations Campaign’ following a high profile campaign against live exports.

 
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1993

Our campaign leads to a ban on sending young orphan lambs to market in the UK.
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1991

The UK Government introduces legislation to phase out sow-stalls (gestation crates) and sow tethers in Britain by 1 January 1999 and the EU agrees to ban tethers from 1 January 2006.

 
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1990

Veal crates become illegal in the UK.

 
• 1988 CIWF stages the first ever public conference on the genetic engineering of animals, The bio-revolution: Cornucopia or Pandora's Box?  
• 1988 CIWF launches campaign to have animals recognised as sentient beings in the European Treaty with a pan-European petition.  
• 1987 Following a court case and CIWF’s campaign, the UK Government votes to phase-out veal crates in the UK by 1 January 1990.
• 1983 CIWF persuades government and farmers to stop the practice of muzzling calves.  
• 1981 Peter Roberts is awarded for outstanding services to Animal Welfare by the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation.  
• 1980 After a major CIWF campaign, deer velvetting (the removal of stags' antlers at the sensitive growing stage) is banned in the UK.  
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1973

CIWF’s campaign against Live Exports from the UK results in a ban on exports for several months. After protests from farmers, the trade is re-opened.