Equines have varied status within the EU. They can be used for multiple purposes including companionship, leisure, sports, production or work. Sometimes, they fulfil more than one of these roles in their lifetime. Although bred for these other roles, many are subsequently used for meat production purposes. This situation means that equines often fall between the lines of legislation and are not adequately protected.

The objective of this briefing is to define the modalities for inclusion of equines within the different instruments forming the revised animal welfare legislation.

Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG), also called Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG), is a hormone extracted from the blood of pregnant mares (female horses). It is used to increase and manage fertility in farmed animals such as pigs, sheep, goats and cattle. Mares are kept on premises, called blood farms, where their blood is collected. eCG is produced in the EU, but the vast majority is imported from non-EU countries and used in animal agriculture throughout the EU.

eCG production and use is in breach of EU law and entails serious welfare concerns. As one species of domesticated animal is used to exploit another, eCG perfectly illustrates the vicious circle of animal abuse. Acknowledging these issues, the EU must take the opportunity of the implementation of the new regulation on veterinary medicinal products, and the revision of the EU animal welfare legislation, to end eCG production, use and imports in the EU.