Food safety authority gets over 2,500 heat reports about animals

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) received more than 2,500 reports about animals suffering in the heat this summer. A year earlier it had more than 700. The Netherlands had 31 days above 30 degrees this year, five more than in 2025.

As in 2025 and 2024, most reports concerned a lack of shade for animals in pasture. They were mainly about horses, cattle and sheep. The NVWA names two main reasons for the sharp rise: its own social media appeals, and calls from animal welfare organisations to report animals in fields without shade and water.

Inspectors carried out 200 physical checks on animals in pasture. In 90 cases they found the animals' situation did not meet the requirements. Most could be fixed on the spot by creating shade or providing water. The NVWA says many reports were too vague, with no exact location or images, so it could not act on them.

The authority wants to depend less on reports. Before summer it analysed fields with geodata for hedges and trees. Some owners of fields without them received a letter saying the land is considered unsuitable for grazing in hot weather. This summer it also began a pilot with drones to spot animals grazing in fields without shade. The pilot continues in 2027.

Transport

The NVWA also carried out 188 inspections of animal welfare during transport and found breaches of the rules in 4. All transporters kept to the ban on transport above 35 degrees. From 1 April next year the ban will change to 30 degrees.