A U-turn by all but one of the 37 MPs for the far-right PVV has put paid to plans to bring in new measures to boost animal welfare on livestock farms.

In 2021, MPs voted in favour of legislation stipulating that animals can no longer suffer pain or discomfort when kept in cages or barns, and must be able to display natural behaviour.

That legislation, drafted by the pro-animal PvdD, was criticised by both the industry and former farm minister Carola Schouten at the time for being too open to interpretation. It was, however, slated to come into effect next year.

However, current farm minister Piet Adema said at the beginning of the month that he wanted to water down the plans because they required too great an investment from the factory farming sector.

In Tuesday’s vote, 99 out of 150 MPs voted against the PvdD’s proposal. Dion Graus, the pro-animal rights PVV MP, was the only one of his party to continue to back tough new rules. The VVD also voted against.

“Animals have been thrown under a bus,” said PvdD leader Esther Ouwehand. “But we won’t leave it at this.”

MPs did, however, back an alternative proposal from D66 which calls on the farm sector and government officials to reach an agreement on animal welfare by July 2025.

The motion outlined the conditions that animal welfare standards must meet. For instance, livestock farmers should facilitate good nutrition and a safe environment, prevent animals from suffering pain, and ensure that they can exhibit natural behaviour.

The PVV voted in favour of this motion, saying it would improve the position of animals.

The revised legislation still has to be passed by the Senate, where the pro-farming BBB is the biggest party.