Assessing the risk to animal welfare in exotic birds

Assignment

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has requested an overview of available knowledge about the welfare needs of some exotic bird species kept as companion and hobby animals in Norway. VKM shall also assess the welfare challenges for these birds and highlight mitigation measures that can improve their welfare. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will use the VKM report as a basis for the recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food about the need for regulatory measures for this type of bird keeping and the scope of such regulations.

Background

In Norway, many species of exotic birds are kept as companion and hobby animals. A report to the Storting (white paper) no. 8 (2023–2024) about animal welfare highlights that there is limited knowledge about the welfare of birds kept as companion and hobby animals. The Animal Welfare Act applies to all keeping of animals and contains provisions about the competence of animal keepers, living environment, supervision, and care.

The Storting agreed to regulate the keeping of large exotic birds based on animal welfare considerations. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has commissioned the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to examine which bird species should be covered by potential regulation, and which welfare aspects are most important to regulate.

The project group

The project group consists of:

• Janicke Nordgreen (Scientific leader), Panel for Animal Health and Welfare
• Grete H. M. Jørgensen, Panel for Animal Health and Welfare
• Cecilie Mejdell, external expert, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute
• Ruth C. Newberry, external expert, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
• Stephan Reber, external expert. Lund University
• Kristin Opdal Seljetun, VKM Secretariat (Project manager)
• The risk assessment will be approved by the Panel for Animal Health and Welfare and is scheduled to be published June 24, 2026.