To apply for this award, you need to be a well-known or notable food company that can satisfy the welfare criteria below, either as a current policy or on a five-year commitment basis.

Companies can receive the award in one of two categories:

Current Policy: awarded to companies that already meet the award criteria.
In Transition: awarded to companies that have made a public commitment and are working towards meeting the criteria within five years.

There are three types of award available:

Higher Welfare Award - Does and Rabbits for meeting the welfare criteria for both does and meat rabbits
Higher Welfare Award - Rabbits for meeting the welfare criteria for meat rabbits
Higher Welfare Award - Does for meeting the welfare criteria for does.

You can apply for an award in the following categories:

Fresh rabbit
Frozen rabbit
Further processed or ingredient rabbit meat

Welfare criteria for meat rabbits

A current policy or commitment to achieve CAGE-FREE housing with the following conditions within five years:

Space allowance:
- Minimum between 800 and 1500cm² per rabbit depending on group size and national legislation
- Minimum pen length: 1.8 meters
- No pen height restriction
Comfortable flooring
Enrichment provision:
- Platform(s)
- Gnawing objects, hiding places and hay or straw provision
- Dawn-dusk lighting schedule, with natural light for new buildings
No routine use of antibiotics

Welfare criteria for does

A current policy or commitment to achieve CAGE-FREE housing with the following conditions within five years:

Group housing:
- Does housed in groups: individual housing during kindling and nursing is permitted
- Measures in place to minimise aggression: stable grouping; opportunities to escape others; scoring and reducing the incidence of injuries; behavioural observation
- No pen height restriction
Comfortable flooring
Enrichment provision:
- Nesting material
- Platform(s)
- Gnawing objects, hiding spaces and hay or straw provision
- Dawn-dusk lighting schedule, with natural light for new buildings
No routine use of antibiotics

If you are a retailer, we will assume you are entering on the basis of your own-label rabbit meat in the above food categories, EXCLUDING any branded rabbit meat lines you sell.

Why apply?

Winning an award enables you to:

Demonstrate leadership on farm animal welfare and responsible sourcing.
Show how your policies and commitments align with your company's values and sustainability goals.
Strengthen supply chain transparency and traceability, helping to manage business and reputational risk.
Build trust and confidence among customers, investors and other stakeholders.
Gain recognition for your achievements from a globally respected farm animal welfare organisation.
Respond to growing consumer demand for food produced to higher welfare standards.

Support on your journey
We can help you identify welfare improvements through our expert technical advice and support, through our case studies which share best practice and we have a bank of resources to help you make the case for choosing higher welfare systems.

How to apply

Companies can apply via their engagement with the Food Business team and on completion of an application form signed at director level.

Where an application is made on a commitment basis, companies are required to provide annual progress reports against their commitment. Compassion will maintain regular contact with award winners throughout the commitment period to monitor progress, offer ongoing support, and help ensure commitments are met within the agreed timeframe.

Ready to apply? Contact us today to start the conversation.

View the Higher Welfare Award - Does and Rabbits supporting information sheets.

Higher Welfare Award - Does and Rabbits: Criteria