Egypt is a marginal performer (“D”) under the VACI. While its meat consumption and reliance on farmed animal production are low, Egypt’s animal protection legislation is among the weakest in its region.
"We all need to work together, the media, prominent NGOs, activists, animal welfare societies, law makers and enforcers, to reacher a comprehensive and applicable law"
Dina Zulfikar
Egypt is a marginal performer (“D”) under the VACI. While its meat consumption and reliance on farmed animal production are low, Egypt’s animal protection legislation is among the weakest in its region.
Egypt slaughters around 9.3 land-based animals per person per year, slightly below the global average. The country's dependence on farmed animals is low, with around 2 farmed animals per person, compared with a global average of 4.1. The farming of cows, chickens and other farmed birds is mostly small-scale and extensive. However, factory farming is growing.
The Egyptian diet contains a low proportion of animal products. Around 19% of the average person's diet consists of land-based animal protein, versus a global average of 35.2%. Each person consumes around 17g of land-based animal protein per day, compared with a global average of 27.2g.
Egypt is rated as a very poor performer ("F") under the Animal Protection Index (API), and its farmed animal protection legislation achieved the worst performance rating ("G") under the same index. This is due to its inadequate animal protection laws and enforcement mechanisms. There is no overarching independent national animal welfare legislation, and no species-specific legislation for farmed animals during rearing, transport and slaughter. Egypt also continues to permit the use of farrowing crates, sow stalls and cages, as well as surgical operations without anaesthesia. Learn more about the quality of Egypt's legislative protections on the API here.