The impact of including animals in the constitution– Lessons learned from the German animal welfare state objective

Abstract

In July 2002, Germany became the first country in the European Union to introduce an animal welfare state objective into the constitution. Almost twenty years later, it is time to analyze the impact of the German animal welfare state objective. As other countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, are considering following the German example, the implementation of animal welfare in a constitution is more topical than ever. This article will explore whether Article 20a of the German Constitution created a significant improvement for animal welfare in Germany. To this end, extensive research was conducted by an in-depth case law analysis.