Overview
- The fair opened on January 16 at Messe Berlin with about 1,600 exhibitors from roughly 50 countries and organizers expecting around 325,000 visitors.
- Live cattle, horses and sheep returned to the animal hall after last year’s foot-and-mouth restrictions kept only models on display.
- A "Wir haben es satt" march was set for Saturday in central Berlin, with police saying 9,000 participants were registered.
- The Bundestag postponed the mandatory state animal-welfare label for meat to January 1, 2027, drawing criticism from NGOs over broader deregulatory moves.
- Government engagement includes an agriculture ministers’ conference hosting delegates from about 60 countries on Saturday, while eastern German state ministers plan Sunday talks on EU funding and fertilizer rules.