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arrowBan whale hunting if serious about EU accession, says European Commission
11 December 2009

 

WhaleThe European Commission has confirmed that Iceland will be required to ban the hunting of whales if it succeeds in becoming a new EU Member State. This has been confirmed by the European Commission in a letter to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and passed on to Eurogroup for Animals.

 

In recent months, the country has decided to seek EU membership and talks have begun with the European Commission to investigate the Nordic country’s eligibility to join. Animal welfare supporters across the Union subsequently expressed concern about Iceland’s insistence on the keeping of the whale hunt as this is contrary to requirements for membership. Under the EU’s Habitats Directive, whales are protected from deliberate disturbance, capture and killing within European Community waters. If Iceland is serious about EU accession, it will need to fully adhere to this law and the rest of the EU rules and policies.

 

In its letter, a spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Environment Dimas also says it “remains deeply concerned by the Icelandic whale hunt” and that it has “expressed this concern on various occasions”. The European Commission is expected to formulate its opinion on Iceland’s accession application next year.

 

 

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arrow Eurogroup for Animals welcomes
new Treaty

1 December 2009

 

EU flagToday is an historic day for the European Union and one that will hopefully also change the situation for animal welfare for the better. The first of December marks the entry into force of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty and sets in motion the long-awaited reform of a now enlarged Union. The new Treaty was intended to make the EU more democratic, efficient and transparent.

 

The new rules provide several opportunities for placing animal welfare higher on the political agenda. As instructed by its democratic principles, the EU institutions need to maintain a regular dialogue with Civil Society, which includes Eurogroup and its Members. A new tool launched by Lisbon, the “citizens’ initiative” also means that if 1 million signatures are gathered, the citizens of Europe can draw the Union’s attention to a specific animal welfare problem and subsequently instruct the European Commission to act. The European Parliament’s increased power in the field of agriculture will also provide additional chances for us to highlight animal welfare concerns in livestock production during the legislative procedure. And last but certainly not least: the Treaty’s Article 13 on animal welfare requires Member States and EU institutions to fully consider animal welfare concerns.

 

 

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arrow Italy condemned for breaching EU ban on driftnets
18 November 2009

 

Stuck in driftnetItaly has been condemned by the European Court of Justice for continuing to allow its fishermen to use driftnets, hereby condemning a large number of fish, including dolphins and whales, to a cruel death. Driftnets are set up in fixed positions, covering large areas, and left to drift through the water for long periods of time. The use of driftnets leads to the indiscriminate suffering and killing of thousands of fish that are not even sought after by fishermen (so-called by-catch).

 

Italy has long been investigated by animal welfare organisations for its inaction to protect fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. The use of driftnets is prohibited by EU law since 2002, yet Italy has consistently failed to enforce this legislation adequately.

 

After many years of submitting complaints and warnings sent by the European Commission, the Southern European country has now been ordered by the European Court of Justice to enforce the EU ban without delay. The Court has however, disappointingly not ordered any sanctions to be taken against the country. Click read more to read the ECJ judgment (Case C-249/08)

 

(Image courtesy of Greenpeace)

 

 

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arrow EU addresses information for consumers about animal products


28 October 2009

 

Shopping cartEurogroup for Animals today welcomed a new European Commission report on how to improve communication to consumers about the way animals are treated in different food production systems. Eurogroup is particularly pleased that this report will start a political discussion on what the EU should do next to promote high standards of animal welfare in the food chain.

Consumers are growing increasingly interested in where and how their food is produced. The issue of sustainable and ethical production is also high on the agenda of producers and policy-makers. Yet many people remain unaware of how animals are reared for food production and as a result, they are unable to make informed purchasing decisions.

Sonja Van Tichelen, Director of Eurogroup for Animals, clarifies: “Although the EU has the highest number of laws on farm animal welfare, its legislation fails to provide an acceptable level of protection to the animals. Most citizens are horrified when shown images of current intensive farming practices such as footage of animals locked in dark cages, castration without anaesthetic, force feeding and genetic selection which leads to disease and injuries.
“Private animal welfare schemes, quality labels or organic production provide alternatives; but for them to succeed, consumers need to be able to identify animal welfare friendly products.”

Eurogroup for Animals now urges the EU and its Member States to makes use of the variety of measures and policies that are already available such as EU-funded information campaigns or support for assurance schemes through rural development funding. Moreover, new initiatives should be envisaged, including in particular, the setting up of a Community centre on animal welfare to assist private and public initiatives on animal welfare.

 

 

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arrow first step in court case against Spain over zoo infringement


15 October 2009

 

Baboon in zooThe first step has been taken in a legal procedure against Spain over the country’s infringement of the EU Zoo Directive.

For some years, the country has failed to meet EU regulations on the keeping of wild animals in zoos. Following the gathering of evidence by a number of Spanish animal welfare NGOs, co-ordinated by Eurogroup for Animals, the European Commission decided to investigate. As Spain did not heed the warnings of the Commission to rapidly seek compliance with the rules, the European Court of Justice officially started legal proceedings against Spain at the end of August.

 

The court case will result in a judgment that pertains to zoos in no less than 9 of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions: Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile and Leon, Valencia, Extremadura and Galicia. Spain now has one month to lodge a defence regarding the enforcement authorities’ activities and failure to ensure that zoos in these regions were licensed in accordance with EU law.

Criteria for obtaining the necessary licensing include compliance with Zoo Directive stipulations such as proper care for the animals’ welfare, participation in scientific and conservation activities and contributing to the education of zoo visitors. Zoos that do not comply with these rules and therefore are not licensed should be closed, a duty Spain has also neglected to carry out.

 

 

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arrow New on-farm welfare assessment system introduced: Welfare Quality


8 October 2009

 

CowThe Swedish city of Uppsala is hosting the much-anticipated Final Conference of the Welfare Quality project today and tomorrow. The Conference, co-hosted by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and attended by EU Health Commissioner Vassiliou and Swedish minister for Agriculture Eskil Erlandsson, will present participants with an innovative new way to assess the welfare of farm animals.

 

Welfare Quality is an EU-funded research project which set out to develop European standards for the assessment of farm animal welfare. On the basis of the results of the assessment exercise, its researchers that sought to develop practical strategies to improve welfare.

 

The project was originally started in 2004 and its results will now help to inform producers and retailers how to respond to consumer demand and food supply chain requirements. The main impetus behind the project is a wish to address societal concerns about animal welfare as well as accommodate market demands.

 

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the findings of the WelfareQuality and already looks ahead to build on the outcome of WelfareQuality via the European Animal Welfare Platform (EAWP), which provides a discussion platform for stakeholders for the improvement of farm animal welfare to the benefit of the animals as well as producers, retailers and farmers

 

 

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arrow Estimated 4.5 million research animals saved from unnecessary chemical tests


17 September 2009

 

Animal testEurogroup For Animals and four other animal welfare organisations have welcomed the response of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to a joint letter sent to the Head of the Agency regarding concerns over duplicative animal testing. Duplicative testing is the repeating of the same scientific procedure for confirmation of findings, but this involves the doubling of animals used for testing and is entirely unnecessary.

 

On 13 August, Eurogroup for Animals sent a joint letter to the Head of ECHA to request clarification on safety testing requirements under the EU’s chemicals regulation, REACH. According to minimum requirements set by REACH, millions of animals need to be used to assess the safety of chemicals.

Eurogroup has long expressed concerned over the unnecessary doubling of the number of tests that is the result of testing facilities wishing to speed up the process to obtain safety certification for their new chemicals.

 

The European Chemicals Agency has now clarified  that chemical producers do not need to submit toxicity studies of testing results based on shorter studies, when the result of similar long term studies are presented. This means that an estimated 4.5 million animals may be safety from having to endure painful procedures.

 

 

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arrow Dutch minister congratulated for raising issue of animal transport


8 September 2009

 

transport of sheepEurogroup for Animals has congratulated the Dutch minister of Agriculture, Gerda Verburg, for her intervention at yesterday EU Agriculture Council. The Minister had asked for all 27 EU agriculture ministers to discuss the issue of live animal transport and requested that new rules are put in place to ensure the use of new instruments for the controlling and inspecting of international transport of live animals. This issue has risen to prominence over the past year as the EU is currently revising its rules on animal transport.

 

Eurogroup for Animals has been campaigning for the inclusion of the requirement for all animal transport vehicles to be equipped with a satellite navigation system which is linked to a central EU database as an enforcement tool of the transport regulation. The transmitting of vital information such as the amount of time travelled and the temperature inside the vehicle in real time will enable enforcement authorities to ensure that animal welfare can be guaranteed at every stage of the journey. Minister Verburg’s proposal was supported by Germany, UK, Denmark, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and Latvia, but could not count on the backing of France, Spain, Italy and Poland.

 

The response from EU Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou was that the new proposal for the transport regulation is to be released “as soon as possible”, but gave no date for possible publication. Eurogroup urges the Commission to publish the proposal before the end of its current mandate, which is coming to a close within the next few weeks.

 

 

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arrow No cause for celebration as animal testing on the rise


28 August 2009

 

WC7At the start of the year’s most important conference on the development of alternatives to animal testing, animal welfare groups are expressing concern over the increasing number of animals used for experiments.

 

Despite the progress made since the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal testing) were introduced 50 years ago, the number of animals used annually for research in the European Union is more than 12.1 million, according to the latest EU statistics (2), and is still rising.

 

At the beginning of the 7th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences, which takes place in Rome from 30 August to 3 September, Eurogroup for Animals is expressing its hope that the event, which will bring together worldwide representatives of NGOs, industry and science as well as authorities and decision-makers, will mark a new chapter for animals used in research.

 

Eurogroup, which is sponsoring the event, is encouraging the users of animal testing methods as well as policy-makers to invest in the research and development of alternatives to animal testing and to support strategies to phase out animal use.

Click on the link below to read Eurogroup's press release

 

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arrow Shellfood safety can be assured without animal tests - report


27 August 2009

 

mouse used for testingA new report by food scientists has cast even more doubt on the need for the controversial and agonising tests for biotoxins in shellfish still being carried out on mice and rats in the EU.

 

Mouse (MBA) and rat (RBA) bioassays are tests used to see if certain types of shellfish are safe to eat by humans and entail the testing of the large numbers of animals before the shellfish are allowed to be sold for consumption.

These bioassays are an ineffective method of determining the presence of toxins and this week’s report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that these tests cannot be considered an appropriate tool for determining the presence of toxins in shellfish. The experts have also reiterated that numerous alternative non-animal methods exist that are more rapid, selective and much more efficient than these animal tests.

 

Eurogroup For Animals welcomes this report and its clear support for the use of alternatives to animal testing. Eurogroup now calls on the European Commission to respond to the scientists’ findings and remove the obligation to use bioassays for shellfish toxins, as consumer safety can now be guaranteed without cruelty.

Click on the link below to read Eurogroup's press release

 

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arrow Experts needed for the validation of alternatives to animal testing


21 August 2009

 

Banner ECVAM call for interest

 

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) to animal testing is looking for scientific experts to apply for membership of ECVAM’s 19-member Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC).  ESAC provides ECVAM, a body of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, with independent, peer-review based advice on the scientific/technical validity of methods for the assessment of the potential toxicity, efficacy and potency of substances.

 

The development of alternative methods to animal testing is encouraged by Eurogroup as we seek to greatly reduce the need for animal testing. In the past, Eurogroup for Animals was represented on the Scientific Committee by two representatives of our Member Organisations.

 

Persons with a solid scientific base and a minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience are invited to apply before 30 September 2009.

 

 

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arrow Belgium to ban cage hens for egg production


13 August 2009

 

battery cageMillions of laying hens may be set to benefit from better housing following the conclusions of a stakeholders’ committee set up to advise Belgian Health Minister Laurette Onkelinx on the application of EU law on laying hens. Animal welfare organisations oppose all cages, including enriched cages, as they do not permit hens to act according to their natural behaviour and cause numerous welfare problems.

 

The committee, which consists of producers, consumer and animal welfare groups, including Eurogroup for Animals and its Belgian member organisation GAIA, considered the welfare aspects and economical aspects of caging systems. Three options for the future of laying-hen welfare in Belgium were on the table – applying the EU law and thus banning conventional cages from 2012, thereby allowing enriched cages; improving the standards for enriched cages; or, a complete shift to alternative egg-laying systems such as barn or free range, which offer better welfare guarantees. Eurogroup and GAIA, while pleased with the committee’s advice, which is a first step towards achieving the Belgian legislation that is due to be in place before 1 January 2010, nevertheless expressed regret that a complete ban on cage systems could not be introduced earlier than 2025, due to a former decision by the Belgian government which granted a phase-out period of 15 years.

 

EU citizens are clearly opposed to the keeping of hens in cages and consumers no longer want to buy cage eggs. Most retailers in Belgium have already accepted this trend and now sell only free-range or barn eggs. Eurogroup for Animals and GAIA are working to ensure that the remaining European retailers and food producers follow suit.

 

 

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arrow Commision EU-US trade report misinterprets US foie gras aversion


12 August 2009

foie gras force feeding of gooseIn response to a new European Commission report on trade barriers between the European Union and the United States of America, Eurogroup has written to the EU’s Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton to address the issue of foie gras production in the US.

 

In the report, entitled U.S. Barriers to Trade and Investment Report for 2008, the Commission refers to a prohibition on the commercialisation and production of foie gras, or goose liver, in a number of US States as a protectionist measure which is “not directly related to animal protection”. As we are aware that these measures have indeed been put in place in these States for animal protection reasons, Eurogroup felt that we needed to address this error and seek a dialogue with the European Commission to correct the latter’s failure to view the foie gras issue as more than a simple trade barrier.

 

Eurogroup for Animals is currently in the process of setting up a Transatlantic Animal Welfare Council” intended to tackle issue such as this and to exchange information about EU-US trade developments with an impact on animal welfare.

 

 

arrow EU Member States support EU seal product ban


28 July 2009

sealThe Council of the EU has officially adopted the EU Regulation on the trade in seal products. This means that nothing now stands in the way of an EU ban on the trade in these products to coming into effect. The adoption follows an agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council in May.

 

After entry into force, it will no longer be permitted to place any products derived from seals killed for commercial purposes onto the EU’s internal market. The European Commission will now have to stipulate specific rules for the implementation of the legislation. The Regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal and the ban itself will be applicalbe nine months after the entry into force.

 

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arrow New EFSA opinion on cow welfare - food safety link


23 July 2009

cowThe European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Biological Hazards Panel has published a new scientific opinion on the food-safety aspects of dairy-cow housing and husbandry systems. Although it focuses mainly on the effects on food safety from the manner in which dairy cows are kept, it also reiterates the importance of the welfare of the animals to the safety of their milk and beef products.

 

The report states: “…ensuring on-farm welfare of dairy cows contributes to, and is beneficial for the food safety aspects of their products entering the food chain (…) Good farming, including provision of optimal animal welfare enhance the animals’ resistance to infections and reduces on-farm spread of food safety hazards.”

 

EFSA’s biohazard experts have concluded that husbandry criteria such as the proper management of the herd to prevent animal stress ought to be established to ensure that sufficient biosafety guarantees are met. At the same time, they also warn that certain welfare measures may actually contribute to the spread of biological threats, through giving the animals access to outdoor spaces, for example, even though this is recognised as a method of building up the animals’ resistance to disease.

 

EFSA recognises that more data is still needed before a thorough assessment of the “welfare-beneficial but food safety-undesirable effects” can be made.

 

 

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arrow EU takes legal action against suffering in Spanish zoos


1 July 2009

A panther and a leopard kept in a small and barren enclosureThe European Commission will be taking Spain to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the country’s failure to properly enforce EU rules on the keeping of animals in zoos.

 

This legal action follows years of monitoring, evidence gathering and reporting of the violations found in Spanish zoos by Eurogroup for Animals and its Spanish member ANDA.

The EU’s Zoo Directive required Spain to have inspected and licensed all of its zoos by April 2005. This deadline was not respected and even today there are still zoos operating without the necessary licensing and a guarantee that all animals residing in these zoos are kept and cared for in welfare friendly conditions.

 

In the past few years, at least 12 zoological parks were closed as a consequence of our campaign. Eurogroup is pleased to see the Commission finally taking action against a country that has been allowed to flout the rules for too long. Eurogroup’s Director, Sonja Van Tichelen, responded to this wonderful news by saying that “We hope that with the threat of an EU fine, this will push the Spanish authorities to make a difference for the animals kept in Spanish zoos”.

 

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arrow Ministers disappoint on new slaughter rules


23 June 2009

Live shacklingEuropean Ministers of Agriculture yesterday agreed a new EU law which should improve the welfare of animals before being sent to slaughter. Although the new provisions aim to avoid unnecessary suffering and adapt legislation to new technologies and scientific findings, many animals will continue to be killed under unacceptable conditions.

 

Member states have merely approved minor changes and have avoided addressing the most serious welfare problems that occur at slaughter such as the killing of animals which are still conscious under the guise of religious customs, and live shackling, a very controversial way of killing meat chickens which entails hanging the birds upside down, hereby subjecting them to excruciating pain, and electrocuting them by means of a water bath conductor before proceeding to kill them.
The new Regulation brings a few improvements such as the need for slaughterhouses to appoint an animal welfare officer and operators to be trained and hold a certificate of competence before being allowed to handle the animals.

 

Eurogroup for Animals also regrets that the new Regulation, which will not have to be applied until 2013, allows EU member states to individually introduce stricter rules for religious slaughter instead of introducing EU-wide rules that apply to all.
Scientists are clear about the suffering that is a direct consequence of animals not being stunned or properly stunned. We can even count on the support of some religious communities who also would like to see an end to killing without stunning. We now call on EU member states to follow Sweden’s example and ban this practice at national level”, said Eurogroup’s Director, Sonja Van Tichelen.

 

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arrow Frank Dales elected new president of Eurogroup for Animals


19 June 2009

Frank Dales - new Eurogroup presidentFrank Dales, Managing Director of the Dutch animal welfare organisation Dierenbescherming, has been elected as the new President of Eurogroup for Animals. Mr Dales was elected by the representatives of Eurogroup for Animals’ 42 member organisations at our Annual General Meeting in Brussels on 18 June.

 

Mr Dales (52) has been head of the Dierenbescherming for two years. The Dierenbescherming is the Netherlands’ largest animal protection organisation and has been a member of Eurogroup since the latter’s creation in 1980. Just last week, the organisation was voted the most influential organisation in the Dutch food chain industry. Eurogroup member organisations unanimously voted to elect him Eurogroup president.

 

Speaking about his appointment as president, Mr Dales said that he is very happy to be appointed president and that he looks forward to the start of the new European Parliament to improve the plight of animals. “I aim to place animal transport and the revision of the EU’s animal experimentation Directive high on the agenda in the next coming months”, he said, “for these are good examples of issues that can only be solved on the EU stage. MEPs may expect to be approached from all corners by Eurogroup: by the Eurogroup staff for the provision of information and expertise and by Eurogroup’s national and international members who speak for millions of animal welfare supporters across the globe.”

 

Mr Dales succeeds Mike Baker, who successfully led the European network for three years, but stood down from his post as president following his recent appointment as the new Head of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, also a member organisation of Eurogroup for Animals.

 

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arrow New Biocides proposal advocates further reducing of animal testing


15 June 2009

On Friday 12 June, the European Commission published a new proposal that will seek to further reduce animal testing. The proposal, which has been welcomed by Eurogroup, concerns the revision of the EU Biocides Directive (98/8/EC). A biocide is used for crop protection. It can be a substance or product which kills or deters harmful organisms through a chemical or biological process. Before a biocide may be placed on the market, regulations require its developers to engage in animal testing to prove it is safe to use. Friday’s proposal wants to make biocides safer for the environment, for humans and for animals. It also aims to ensure that there is no duplication in testing and that companies that request authorisation for testing are made to share the results of their testing. In addition testing will only be approved in cases of actual need.

 

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arrow European Food Safety Authority: EU must do more to reduce animal testing

10 June 2009

 

EFSA logoFood safety testing often makes use of unnecessary animal testing and EU legislators should work to better incorporate the latest scientific advancements for the replacement of animal tests. These are just two of the remarkable findings of the EU’s leading scientists, included in a new report on current EU legislation and EFSA safety testing methods published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on 8 June.

 

Eurogroup for Animals is delighted with this new report as the putting into practice of its recommendations would save hundreds of thousands of animals from their use in experiments every year.The report provides an overview of current legislation which requires toxicity testing involving the use of animals It also highlight a substantial number of animal welfare problems that occur as a direct result of the tests, hereby noting the excessive scale of unnecessary testing.

 

Eurogroup welcomes the Food Safety Authority’s commitment to a proactive animal welfare approach and urges the EU to develop a strategy which new and revised EU legislation automatically incorporate references to the latest progress in the development of alternatives to animal testing.

 

This new report comes at an excellent time, as EU policy-makers are in the midst of revising legislation on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (Directive 86/609). The experts have seconded Eurogroup for Animals’ call for extended support for the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), by calling on the Commission to offer its financial commitment for the development of alternatives and improve communication between EU agencies.

 

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arrow Vote For Animal Welfare! 4-7 June 2009 European Elections


26 May 2009

Vote For Animals!With just two more weeks to go until the European Parliament elections, Europe’s animal welfare organisations are stepping up their campaigns to help voters to make the right choice for animals at the polling stations.


Building on the impetus of Eurogroup’s election campaign, which centres around our Five-Point Elections Manifesto, member organisations have been preparing for the big vote by organising meetings with candidate MEPs, debates between the public and candidates and also setting up websites that evaluate the track record of present MEPs. These events and information tools now allow EU citizens around the continent to see if their MEPs worked to protect animals over the past legislative period (2004-2009) or worked against our efforts.Question & Answer sessions with prospective MEPs also reveal their commitment to improving animal welfare should they be elected. Click here to learn more about our members' recent efforts.

 

Looking to the future, Eurogroup has managed to ensure that all but one EU political group has included animal welfare in their party manifestos. The only political group not to include animal welfare is the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR). Eurogroup’s members have spoken to a large number of their candidates, so voters are invited to have a look at what their candidate MEPs have to say about animal welfare issues and, hopefully, take this into account when heading for the polling stations.

 

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arrow Bad marks for European zoos - new Eurogroup report


14 May 2009

Lion in zooMany EU zoos have yet to fully implement European rules on the keeping of wild animals in zoos and national authorities are still failing to enforce legislation on zoo keeping. These are the main conclusions of a new report by Eurogroup For Animals on the enforcement of the EU Zoo Directive.

Eurogroup For Animals has been continuously monitoring the enforcement of EU legislation on zoos across Europe, and this report – presented to the European Commission last month – serves as a reminder that EU countries need to do substantially more to ensure the safekeeping and care of animals kept in zoos.

The report highlights, among other issues, a general lack of information provided by authorities, the lack of resources allocated to licensing and inspections of zoos and a failure to establish clear guidelines for their scientific and educational activities.

The European Commission’s Environment Directorate currently only monitors the implementation of the legislation in an informal way, by processing the data and information provided by various stakeholders, such as Eurogroup.

Eurogroup For Animals now calls on the next EU Environment Commissioner to conduct a formal evaluation of the Zoo Directive implementation that includes stakeholder participation.

 

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arrow MEPs miss opportunity to significantly increase protection of lab animals


5 May 2009

lab animalThe European Parliament has today voted on the proposal for the revision of the EU’s outdated 1986 Directive on the protection of animals for scientific purposes.

MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of better protection for lab animals, but have disappointed animal welfare supporters as MEPs also chose not to take this opportunity to take the revised Directive further and thereby guarantee the EU’s position as world leader in the use of alternatives to animal testing.


Positive outcomes to the vote include support that is to be given for the development of alternatives to animal experiments, and the promotion of alternatives in education and training. Eurogroup For Animals is, however, disappointed that MEPs did not allow for the inclusion of amendments that would have ensured the phasing out of the use of wild-caught primates. They also weakened the proposed rules for the authorisation of procedures that involve animal testing.

 

Sonja Van Tichelen, Director of Eurogroup For Animals, sees the decision as a step forward but a missed opportunity: “What we need is a U-turn in research to drastically reduce and finally replace the use of animals. For this, we need a different mindset and an overarching European strategy on animal testing with clear targets, replacing the most controversial tests such as those that make use of primates. This law, by itself, will not be sufficient but it will provide an adequate starting point.”

 

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Also in the News:

 

- EU agrees to import of seal products ban

- Parliament disappoints on revision slaughter rules

 

 

arrow MEPs given three chances to drastically improve protection of animals


4 May 2009

European ParliamentThis week, the European Parliament will be voting on three very important animal welfare dossiers. The last plenary session of this Parliament's mandate will vote on the revised rules for the protection of laboratory animals, revised rules for the protection of animals during killing and the EU ban on trade in seal products.

Animal welfare organisations across the world thus have their eyes fixed on Strasbourg this week, as they and millions of animal welfare supporters now look to MEPs to vote to increase the protection of animals and ultimately persuade EU citizens, in turn, to vote in their favour at the EU Parliament elections in just a month's time.

 

Eurogroup asks MEPs to support our amendments to the animal experimentation and slaughter proposal and to vote in support of a ban on the trade in seal products.

 

arrow Concern over direction of Transport proposal


21 April 2009

Transport of pigsEurogroup For Animals has written to the European Commission to express our concerns over the half-hearted approach adopted by the EU’s institutions in their plans for the creation of new rules aimed at improving the welfare of animals during transport.

The reason behind our concerns is the fact that the current proposal includes provisions we believe will seriously weaken the protection of transported animals by not imposing appropriate measures or including clear specifications. Although we welcome the Commission’s proposal to restrict the transport of animals sent to the slaughterhouse to nine hours, the text allows for an unrestricted number of exemptions that may be granted by member states. The very imprecise definition of “slaughter animals” will also allow transporters to avoid journey time restrictions: if they say the animals are being transported for further fattening, they will be able to transport them longer.

Eurogroup is also concerned that the text does not make reference to a legal basis for real time checks on transport movements via a global positioning unit – a clear necessity if the proposed regulation is to be properly enforced.
By sending this letter, Eurogroup has now asked these concerns to be addressed by the Commission before the proposal is sent to the full College of Commissioners.

 

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arrow Commission recognises importance welfare of farmed fish


8 April 2009

Farmed fishThe European Commission’s Fisheries Directorate has today presented a Communication on the EU’s aquaculture potential. Aquaculture or the farming of aquatic animals including fish and crustaceans and aquatic plants is a growing food sector in the EU and policy makers are looking to increase Europe’s competitiveness and sustainability.

Fish farming has numerous implications for animal welfare and this Communication recognises the importance of the welfare of farmed fish for the development of sustainable aquaculture.

Eurogroup welcomes this clear recognition of welfare concerns and is also pleased to see that the Commission plans to launch a project to evaluate fish welfare in aquaculture with a view to possibly introducing legislation on this topic.


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MEPs miss opportunity in animal experimentation vote

 

1 April 2009

Copyright Eurogroup for AnimalsEurogroup for Animals is deeply disappointed with the results of the vote of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes yesterday afternoon.

 

The Agriculture Committee have adopted amendments that will remove important mechanisms for the protection of research animals from the proposed text drafted by the European Commission if these amendments are also adopted in plenary next month.


Some MEPs have even contradicted themselves by voting to make it easier to experiment on primates while they had previously (September 2008) adopted a resolution calling for non-human primate research to be phased out.

Eurogroup is particularly disappointed that the MEPs have allowed for tests to be carried out on animals that cause severe prolonged suffering. The authorisation procedure for determining what testing may be carried out has also been weakened.

 

Director of Eurogroup for Animals, Sonja Van Tichelen, is shocked to see the reluctance of some MEPs to improve the protection of research animals: "We will be working hard to inform the Members of Parliament about the impact of these amendments before they vote on this proposal in Plenary in May.
This is not a choice between science, the development of medicines or animals protection. It is about either choosing to take into account the values of a large majority of European citizens, or letting industry get away with unnecessarily using animals.
Our supporters, spread all over the EU, care deeply about this issue and will be watching closely to see how their MEPs will vote. With only a few weeks before the European elections, we will make sure this will be a key consideration for all animal welfare supporters when they cast their vote in June."

 

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MEPs gear up for historic vote to decide future of millions of lab animals

 

31 March 2009

Copyright Eurogroup for AnimalsThis afternoon, an historic vote is to take place in the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee which will undoubtedly decide the fate of how laboratory animals are to be treated for years to come.

Twenty-three years after the introduction of the EU's directive for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the EU is finally revising the outdated rules that have determined how animal testing may be carried out. The Agriculture Committee is the lead committee in the Parliament's deliberations of the dossier and it will vote on the text that is sent to the Plenary in early May.

Eurogroup for Animals is concerned that the calls for the better protection for laboratory animals may be in vain as some MEPs have been tempted by the industry and research lobbies to water down the Commission proposal so as to keep animal testing as easy as possible. This would be in sharp contrast to the EU's firm stance dedicated to reducing the number of animals used and replacing animal test with alternatives.

Eurogroup urges the members of the Agriculture Committee to do the right thing by voting for amendments which will seriously reduce the number of animals to be used in research. These amendments will allow for the retaining of the quality of EU research and competitiveness, but will ensure better protection for animals and citizens alike.

 

 

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European Parliament says no to food from cloned animals

 

25 March 2009

An overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament has today voted against the authorisation of food products from cloned animals and their offspring.
MEPs have made it clear that, instead of including rules on cloning for food production in the EU's pending novel foods regulation, they want a specific Commission proposal to prohibit cloning of animals for food and the import of such products.

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the Parliament's call for a ban on the sale of food products from cloned animals and their offspring as cloned animals suffer from many defects and often die younger.

Last September, a parliamentary resolution called on the European Commission to ban cloning, but the Commission has been delaying action in the dossier for some time. Today's vote however carries more weight as the novel foods dossier is following the co-decision procedure, thereby giving the Parliament more power in deciding the ultimate outcome of the legislation.

Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup, considers that the Commission is not respecting its own rules by delaying rules to ban the cloning of animals and by doing so the Commission is not only going against its own legal obligations, it is also ignoring the clear message sent by EU citizens: "It is unacceptable that with so many facts and figures against animal cloning, the European Commission has not yet taken the decision to ban it. By not banning cloning for food production the Commission is telling its citizens that it finds trade concerns more important than animal suffering and the concerns of its citizens."

 

 

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European Parliament committee largely ignores positive slaughter report

 

18 March 2009

The European Parliament's lead committee in the slaughter dossier has this week done away with the significant progress made by the European Commission and the Parliament's rapporteur for the enhancing of the protection of animals at the time of killing.

The Parliament's Agriculture Committee's vote on Monday has now weakened both the favourable proposal drawn up by the European Commission and the draft report of Janusz Wojciechowski (UEN, Poland). Both documents included many of Eurogroup for Animals' demands to limit the suffering of animals sent to be killed.

Areas that have sadly been weakened concern the requirement to have an animal welfare officer present in all slaughterhouses and the requirement for all abattoir personnel to be trained and granted a certificate of competence.

 

Eurogroup is also very disappointed that, as a result of the vote, it will also be compulsory for member states to allow the killing of animals for religious purposes without stunning as an exemption to the general legal requirement. The Commission proposal had originally included the possibility for Member States not to grant such an exemption.

 

Eurogroup will now focus all of its attention on the adoption vote in plenary, scheduled for 7 May 2009, and will make sure that key amendments are once again proposed.

 

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Parliament's industry committee not serious about reducing animal testing

 

10 March 2009

lab animalLast night, the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee voted on the report by Esko Seppänen which states that as long as animals continue to be used in experiments, they deserve the highest level of protection.

This statement is, however, in sharp contrast to a number of amendments proposed by other MEPs that give the impression that scientists will be given almost complete freedom when it comes to research. The ITRE committee supports the use of alternative non-animal methods but will only accept those methods which have been internationally accepted.

The principle of using alternatives whenever available has been embedded in EU law since 1986 and it is very much at the heart of efforts to reduce the number of animals used in research.
These efforts to remove that provision are most disconcerting as it can take years of bureaucracy before alternative methods are accepted internationally. During this lengthy waiting period, animals will continue to suffer in spite of the fact that scientifically accepted alternatives exist.

A full plenary vote is expected to take place in May. Eurogroup for Animals will now step up its efforts to inform MEPs of the benefits and the urgent need to speed up the development and the use of alternative methods.

 

 

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Live transport: commissioner welcomes Handle With Care petition

 

27 February 2009

Handle With Care delegationEurogroup for Animals presented the EU commissioner for health, Androulla Vassiliou, with a petition of over 150,000 signatures to end the long-distance transport of live animals yesterday.

Eurogroup is part of a global coalition of animal welfare organisations that have been campaigning for decades to end the long distance transport of live animals.
Mrs Vassiliou received the Handle With Care delegation for a short meeting and then took part in a short press briefing and photocall.

In her speech, the commissioner reiterated her commitment to initiate legislation that will impose restrictions on the duration of live animal transport and the revision of elements in the transport regulation that currently hinder its proper enforcement:
"If member states systematically fail to ensure the correct implementation of EU legislation, the Commission can take infringement proceedings. I have made a commitment that the Commission would consider the possibility, before the end of this mandate, to review certain elements of the current Regulation that make its proper enforcement difficult and are not in line with scientific advice, like travel times and space allowances."

"The Commission is aware that long distance transport of animals for commercial purposes may cause serious suffering to animals. I am appalled by the images of such suffering that have been brought to my attention", Mrs. Vassiliou said.

 

 

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button Outrage over live plucking of geese

 

12 February 2009


featherEurogroup members were shocked to learn that Hungarian geese farmers are still resorting to the feather plucking of live geese.
The matter was brought to light by the Kalla Fakta programme aired by the Swedish broadcaster TV4. The documentary shows the birds being plucked alive whilst trying to escape the grasp of farm workers.


Following the original broadcast and the outrage it has caused among the Scandinavian public and animal welfare organisations alike, many other European television stations have decided to broadcast the programme.

 

Eurogroup members including Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Denmark), Djurskyddet Sverige (Sweden) and the Finnish organisation SEY have all taken action to attempt to stop these practices and to raise awareness among consumers about products that contain goose down.

 

Following the uproar Swedish home improvement retail chain IKEA has issued a statement that it is very concerned about this issue and that it has launched an investigation into the geese farms it commissions to produce its products.

 

The plucking of live birds is prohibited in Hungary (and indeed in most EU member countries; with the exception of Estonia, Romania and Slovakia) under the Council of Europe recommendations concerning domestic geese.

Click read more to view the documentary online [in Swedish; link may expire]

 

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Cloning: commissioner urges EU to "act now"

 

4 February 2009


The EU commissioner on agriculture and rural development has spoken out about the EU's ongoing discussions on the issue of the cloning of animals for food production and urges the European Union to take immediate action.


Mariann Fischer Boel has addressed the issue of cloning on her personal blog, where she seconded Eurogroup for Animals' call for the EU not to dismiss clear signals given by scientists and consumers to ban the cloning of animals for food.


Fischer Boel writes: "I do not want to go back to the dark days of the "mad cow" crisis. There is no lack of quality meat and prices are affordable. Allowing cloning would only benefit a handful of companies while it could undermine consumer confidence in farmers and food producers. It is not about protecting European farmers' market shares; it's merely about being reasonable, especially in view of public opinion."


The commissioner does, however, not advocate a complete ban on cloning as she condones the practice of cloning to ensure the survival of certain animal species or in the field of medical research.

 

 

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Eurogroup to protest against Brazilian exports of live animals to Italy

 

28 January 2009

Cattle being loaded onto a cargo ship

The Italian and Brazilian authorities and meat industry of are currently in the midst of negotiating the matter of the transport of live cattle from the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina to northern Italy. Transporting animals to that destination would entail a journey by sea that would take at least 17 days.

 

Eurogroup for Animals and its Italian member Lega Anti Vivisezione are appalled by these plans and are planning to contact the European Commission and the Italian ministry to protest against these shipments.

Eurogroup for Animals director Sonja Van Tichelen pointed out: "This is a clear example of unnecessary lengthy transport which we would like to see halted in the future. The EU transport rules state that 'long journeys should be limited as far as possible' and 'long journeys are likely to have more detrimental effects on the welfare of animals than short ones', but these arguments are rarely considered.

"As many as 15,000 to 100,000 animals are expected to embark on this long journey in the near future. If Italian consumers insist on having Brazilian meat, we suggest that they transport the meat instead of live animals."
It is hoped that this barbaric trade will soon be halted as the European Commission is due to finalise its proposal on the limiting of journey times before the summer.

 

 

Conference calls for collaboration on animal welfare

 

22 January 2009

An international conference has called for collaboration on animal welfare to meet the challenges of climate change, increasing food demand, and the need to remain competitive in a global marketplace.

 

The Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 January, during which it was concluded that adopting higher welfare farming methods would bring benefits to the farmer, consumer, environment, and developed and developing countries alike. This could be facilitated by sharing best practice and assisting developing countries with their farming.

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Conference to explore trade opportunities of animal welfare

 

19 January 2009

A Brussels conference will this week show what trade opportunities higher standards for animal welfare have to offer. On 20 and 21 January the Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare will bring together anyone from farmers, retailers, politicians, academics, international institutions and animal welfare organisations to present positive experiences of inclusion of animal welfare in the trade environment. This event, which follows a successful forum held in Brussels last April, is being organised by the Directorate-General for External Trade and the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission, together with Eurogroup for Animals, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Compassion in World Farming, and World Society for the Protection of Animals.

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MEPs question Commission on enforcement of live transport rules

 

15 January 2009

MEPs urged the Commission to ensure the rules on protection of animals in transport are properly enforced during an oral question in the European Parliament today. Many of the speakers spoke about the necessity to give this due attention as a civilised society should treat animals properly. In addition to raising doubts about how rules were being adhered to, some MEPs recalled the need for limiting journey times as the only way to ensure animal welfare.

 

Apart from criticising member states, MEPs also asked the Commission to increase the number of controls by the Food and Veterinary Ovffice as well as coming forward with the much awaited new Commission proposal on limiting journey times and stocking densities.

 

European Commission guilty of ignoring its own legislation

 

14 January 09

Eurogroup for Animals, which represents animal welfare organisations from all over Europe, will be filing a complaint of maladministration against the European Commission with the European Ombudsman. By delaying action on the cloning of animals for food, the Commission has failed to respect the EU directive for the protection of farm animals, which states that reproduction techniques which cause animals to suffer cannot be used. Commissioners decided yesterday in Strasbourg to once again put off submitting a proposal, claiming more scientific answers were needed as well as a debate with international trading partners. Eurogroup for Animals is appalled by this wait-and-see approach as all the scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that cloning is harmful for the animals.

 

Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "We are shocked that the Commission is disrespecting its own rules because it values trade relations over the welfare of animals and the wishes of consumers. The Commission has let down animals and people by failing to propose a ban on the cloning of animals for food. The wasteful practice has been shown to cause animals to suffer at every stage, yet the Commission has chosen to ignore all the scientific evidence, the majority of Europeans who are against it, as well as the advice of the EU's own institutions.

 

"Eurogroup will be calling on member states to apply the directive for the protection of farm animals and introduce national bans if the Commission continues to do nothing."

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Canada changes seal hunt rules to avoid EU ban

 

8 January 09

Copyright: IFAWCanada has tweaked its seal hunt rules in an attempt to mask the inherent cruelty of it and avoid being hit by an EU ban on seal products. The European Commission proposed last July a ban on the trade and import of seal products except for those countries that could prove their seals had been killed "humanely". Canada has now made minor changes to its regulations for the annual seal hunt, such as a ban on the use of the hakapik on seals older than one year, which would affect only less than one percent of the seals killed.

 

Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals, said: "These adjustments will not fool anyone. The hunt will remain as cruel as it has ever been. It is impossible to ensure each seal is killed humanely as the hunt takes place over a vast area in difficult circumstances. The EU should go ahead with a ban and not have any exemptions for seals that were 'supposedly' killed humanely."

 
Great hopes for 2009

 

23 December 08

Copyright: BigStockPhoto.com2009 already promises to be a great year for animals with an EU ban on the trade in cat and dog fur coming into force in January. Eurogroup members campaigned for the ban after discovering many manufacturers used pelts from cats and dogs for clothing and toys without labelling them as such.

 

Eurogroup hopes that the new year will also bring many other improvements for animals such as an EU trade ban on seal products and a ban on products from cloned animals. It also wishes there will be progress on legislative proposals to protect the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter and animals used in research and that there will be new legislation proposed to protect live animals being transported.

 

To help achieve this Eurogroup will continue to work on behalf of the millions of animals throughout Europe in 2009 and beyond.

Prison sentence for causing animals to suffer and die during transport

 

16 December 08

Copyright: Animals' AngelsA lorry driver who caused animals to suffer and die during transport has been given an eight month prison sentence. The Dutchman was found guilty by an Italian court due to exceeding the permitted loading density and journey time, exposing the animals to excessive temperatures, an for failing to provide rest and water for the animals. The case was brought by Animals’ Angels and Eurogroup member Lega Antivivisezione (LAV).

 

Animals’ Angels investigators alerted the police when they observed the vehicle in Italy in July 2005. When the vehicle was stopped, dead and dying pigs were discovered on top of each other. Blood was running down the walls, while some of the pigs had started to cannibalise the others.

 

Animals’ Angels and LAV will now also be pursuing the transport company after the judge recognised both parties as civil parties, which gives them the right to seek compensation for damages.

 

Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen said: “It is great that the judge recognised the severity of the offences and landed the driver with an eight-month prison sentence. Pigs are sentient beings capable of suffering the same way as humans.

 

“This case again highlights the need for stricter enforcement. EU member states should do all they can to check companies follow legislation to protect the welfare of animals during transport.”




 

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Film exposes welfare issues in slaughterhouses

 

11 December 08

Copyright: DTSchB/M.KarremannSerious welfare problems at German slaughterhouses have been exposed in a film produced by director Manfred Karremann and Eurogroup member Deutscher Tierschutzbund. The shocking images broadcast at German national television show how slaughterhouses in the country still fail to minimise the suffering of the animals involved. It can still happen that cows or pigs are slaughtered without any stunning.

 

The European Commission proposed in September 2008 new legislation to improve the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter.

 

Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen said: “If these difficulties already exist in a country such as Germany, you can only imagine what problems persist in the rest of the EU. It shows once again that urgent action is needed.

 

“The EU should approve the new legislation regarding slaughter as soon as possible as this is something that affects millions of animals each day.”




 

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Portuguese zoos break EU animal protection rules

 

9 December 08

Eurogroup for Animals has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission in protest of the poor conditions animals are being kept in at Portuguese zoos. Under European legislation Portugal was obligated to have inspected and licensed all its zoos by April 2005 at the latest. Nearly four years later, 20% of Portuguese zoos are still unlicensed and thus operating illegally. Some of the zoos that are licensed do not respect legal requirements. An investigation by Eurogroup has uncovered many shortcomings that put both the animals and the public at risk.

 

Problems found at Portuguese zoos vary from barren enclosures, to highly social animals being housed in isolation, and animals of different species being kept together inappropriately. Some animals have been seen to mutilate themselves and behave aggressively towards other animals.

 

In addition safety and security risks were identified for animals and visitors alike. Many animals are kept in enclosures that could easily be opened by the public. In one case a lemur monkey was found to be outside the enclosure as it was able to pass through the mesh.



 

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Action needed on illegal home slaughter

 

5 December 08

Authorities are urged to ensure ritual slaughter during the feast of Eid al-Adha will only take place in licensed slaughter houses. On December 8 Muslims commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God and as part of the festivities sheep are slaughtered.

 

Eurogroup for Animals calls on authorities to check for any illegal home slaughter which could cause animals to suffer needlessly. Under European legislation sheep slaughter without stunning is only allowed to take place in licensed slaughterhouses by professionals. Eurogroup members will be monitoring the situation in the various member states.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "Slaughter should only be done by trained professionals in licensed slaughterhouses to help minimise the suffering of the animals. We would ask everyone to do all they can to make this happen."


 

 
Report highlights problems with farming sea bass and sea bream

 

28 November 08

Pic author: Luis Miguel Bugallo SánchWelfare problems with the farming of European sea bass and gilthead sea bream have been identified in a newly published report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The risk assessment outcomes showed there could be problems with handling and with poorly formulated feed and poor storage. Also there was a lack of available authorised anaesthetics for use in broodstock.

 

The EFSA report stated that management practices should be implemented to minimise disturbance to the fish. An important hazard is diseases spreading.

 

Although fish farming is increasingly becoming more popular in Europe, there are still no legal standards for it. Currently EFSA is working on scientific opinions on the animal welfare aspects of husbandry systems for various fish.


 

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More money for rural development

 

20 November 08

EU agriculture ministers have agreed to move more money from direct payments to rural development, which could benefit practices such as organic farming. The spending increase is part of a political agreement on the health check of the EU's common agricultural policy. The extra funds will have to be used to fund ways to tackle new challenges, including measures to fight climate change. This could include measures that will benefit animal welfare at the same time, such as extensive free range and organic farming.

 

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the increase in rural development spending, but regrets agriculture ministers did not adopt the higher figures proposed by the Commission.

 

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Commission launches game to educate children on farm welfare

 

13 November 08

The European Commission has launched an internet game designed to teach children more about farm animals and the conditions that are needed to secure their welfare.

 

Farmland, the name of the game, introduces children to a virtual farm where they are needed to build an animal-welfare friendly environment, feed the animals and take care of their general well-being. The website was launched within the scheme of the European Vet Week (10-16 November 2008) and is available in nine languages (English, French, German, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish and Swedish).

 

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou stressed the importance of offering this type of tools to Europe's children: "Information and communication play an important role in helping us to understand the value of animals in our society. We have a duty to inform our children about the origin and production ojf food and to raise awareness about animals and how they should be handled and treated. With 'Farmland' we believe we achieve these objectives in a way that is also interesting and entertaining for our children."



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International conference on trade opportunities animal welfare has to offer

 

10 November 08

A conference showing the benefits higher standards for animal welfare have to offer to international trade will take place in Brussels on 20 and 21 January 2009. The Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare will bring together anyone from farmers, retailers, politicians, academics, international institutions and animal welfare organisations to present positive experiences of inclusion of animal welfare in the trade environment.

 

This event, which follows a forum held in Brussels last April, is being organised by the Directorate-General for External Trade and the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission, together with Eurogroup for Animals, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Compassion in World Farming, and World Society for the Protection of Animals.


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EU institutions urged to make new animal experimentation law a priority

 

5 November 08

Eurogroup for Animals calls on the European Parliament and the Council to take up discussions of the long-awaited proposal for a new directive on animal experimentation announced today as a matter of priority. If the new proposal is not discussed in Parliament by the time of the next European elections in June 2009, the legislation risks being significantly delayed.


Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen said: “Every day this new legislation is not enacted, thousands more animals will suffer. This new proposal has been eagerly awaited for years and any further delay would be simply unacceptable.”


The Commission, which published the proposal today, has been working on the revision of directive 86/609/EEC since 2002 and its publication was delayed several times this year. With existing legislation dating from 1986 it is high time to consider new scientific developments as well as the ever growing concern of EU citizens about animal testing. In a public consultation, 93% of respondents said more needs to be done to improve the level of welfare/protection of animals used in experiments by action at EU level.


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Call for stricter controls on live animal transport

 

21 October 08

Eurogroup is calling for stricter controls on live animal transport after further evidence emerged of widespread welfare problems. The EU's Food and Veterinary Office has published two reports criticising transport live transport in Italy and Germany. The FVO report for Italy said the procedures for enforcing EU regulations in some regions are still "generally insufficient" and that there was a substantial number of cases where not enough was done to prevent unnecessary suffering during transport. The report on Germany only checked Lower Saxony but discovered there was a lack of control by the veterinary authorities of journey logs and the checking of the competence or training of staff.

 

Meanwhile the number of violations during animal transport in the Netherlands doubled during the first part of this year compared to the same period last year. This has been attributed to a significant increase in the number of inspections.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen commented: "It is clear that a better control system is urgently needed to guarantee the welfare of animals during transport. It is unacceptable that so many of them should suffer when so much of it can be prevented. Controls should be toughened up to ensure companies will not be able to get away with this.

 

"We call on the Commission and members states to introduce a satellite navigation system which would allow authorities to follow the trucks in real time without even leaving their office. The technology exists and is accepted in other sectors of industry."


 
MEPs urged to make their mark for animals

 

15 October 08

Candidates for next year's European elections are being asked to include objectives for animal welfare in their policy programme for the 2009-14 Parliament. Eurogroup for Animals has produced a manifesto with five clear objectives to improve the lives of animals in Europe. It is urging each political group to include it in its 2009 election programme. The objectives are to improve farm animal welfare, reduce animal experiments, protect pets, conserve and respect wildlife, and to implement and enforce legislation.


Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals, said: "Voters care deeply about what happens to animals, so they will want to know what Members of Parliament will do to protect them. In many cases it could be the deciding factor when they cast their vote. We urge politicians to take up the challenge and lead on animal welfare issues."


European consumers reject products from cloned animals

 

9 October 08

Nearly six out of ten people in Europe (58%) feel that animal cloning for food production should never be justified, according to a Eurobarometer survey published today. In addition, 43% said they were "not at all likely" to buy food from cloned animals while 41% said they would not consider products from the offspring of cloned animals.


The survey was commissioned by the European Commission to help it decide whether it should approve the controversial practice within the EU.

 

Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed the survey and urges the Commission to propose a ban on animal cloning for food, which is a wasteful practice that causes animals to suffer at every stage. This should also include a ban on the import and marketing of products derived from it.


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UN urged to put animal welfare on the agenda

 

30 September 08

A coalition of leading international animal welfare organisations, including Eurogroup for Animals, has called on the UN's Food & Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) to place the welfare of animals on its agenda for the first time.

 

The call comes as a panel of international experts, appointed by the FAO's Animal Production and Health Division, begins discussions at the first ever 'Expert Meeting On Capacity Building To Implement Good Animal Welfare Practices' in Rome (30 Sept - 3 Oct).

 

The coalition of animal welfare organisations has issued a set of 10 recommendations for the UN FAO to include animal welfare considerations in all its actions. Improving the health and welfare of animals would bring considerable benefits to farmers and their families, especially in developing nations, help protect the environment, support trade, ensure effective preparation for and recovery from disasters, as well as address the growing global demand for higher welfare practices and production systems.

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Presidency says no to battery cage ban delay

 

26 September 08

The French minister of agriculture, Michel Barnier, spoke out against delaying the ban on the use of battery cages for laying hens this Wednesday. Mr Barnier was a guest speaker at the Intergroup on Welfare and Conservation of Animals meeting taking place in Brussels.

 

When asked if he would consider pushing back the 2012 ban to a later date, Mr Barnier said: “I would not like us to go back on that date. I would not like to see it
postponed. That is the Council position, that battery farming should cease on that day.”

 

Eurogroup has welcomed the position taken by the French and hopes that this may encourage egg farmers to make the most of the three years they have left to make the necessary changes to their infrastructure.

 

Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup, feels the time has now come to stop stalling: “They have had almost nine years to prepare. It is now time to act and stop complaining that there is not sufficient time
left.”

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Slaughter proposals hailed as boost to animal welfare

 

18 September 08

Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed Commission proposals to overhaul the current slaughter directive with improvements such as introducing animal welfare officers in slaughterhouses and requiring all staff working with animals to have their competence assessed. The planned revision of directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing also includes the creation of animal welfare reference centres in each member state, which can be used to get technical advice. They will also be responsible for assessing new methods, equipment and technologies.

 

Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals, said: "These proposals are a step in the right direction and will benefit millions of animals. It is unacceptable in a civilised society that animals have to suffer in their final moments. So much of their suffering can be avoided or decreased by having well-trained staff and by using appropriate stunning techniques."

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EU urged to hurry up on research animals

 

10 September 08

Eurogroup for Animals has written to the Commission to ask them to finally publish the long-awaited revision of the directive regulating the protection of animals used in testing in research. The current directive has been left unchanged since 1986 and needs urgent updating to incorporate the latest scientific research. Although the revision was announced in 2003, the Commission still has not made its plans public.

 

Eurogroup's president Mike Baker urged President Barroso to convince his colleague Commissioners to agree on a proposal as soon as possible: "This new legislation could do much to help reduce the need for millions of animals being used every year. It would be in everyone's interest to publish the proposal and start the public debate."

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Eat less meat, says UN climate expert

9 September 08

The United Nation’s top climate expert is urging people to eat less meat to help reduce damage to the environment. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change, said a diet adjustment could be one of the easiest measures that could be taken.

 

“In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,” he said. “Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there.”

 

Eurogroup for animals has welcomed his comments as it also believes eating less meat is better for the planet. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, livestock accounts for nearly a fifth of all greenhouse-gas emissions. [See also: Less meat to help save the planet]

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MEPs vote to support ban on cloning

 

3 September 08

European parliamentarians today voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution proposing to ban cloning of animals for food. No fewer than 630 MEPs voted in favour and only 32 against. The motion for resolution was initiated by the Intergroup on Animal Welfare, and urges the Commission to prohibit cloning of animals for food and any products from cloned animals and their offspring. Cloning is an inefficient process that causes animals to suffer at every stage.

 

The news has been welcomed by Eurogroup for Animals, which provides the secretariat for the Intergroup and which has been campaigning against cloning for food.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "After MEPs voted with such an overwhelming majority to oppose cloning of animals for food, the Commission can't afford to ignore their message. It is now up to the Commission to take up the challenge and act to stop cloning of animals for food being approved in the EU."

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Less meat to help save the planet

 

21 August 08

People should eat less meat to help tackle the challenge of climate change, according to Eurogroup for Animals. The animal welfare organisation is taking part in a consultation by the European Commission on what the European Union's approach to a global climate change agreement should be. Eurogroup is advising to cut back on meat, and when people do eat meat it should be produced to higher animal welfare standards.

 

The major impact livestock production has on climate change was highlighted in a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO): Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options.

 

Livestock and related activities such as deforestation and increasingly fuel-intensive farming practices are responsible for more than 18% of human made greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than the global emissions of the transport sector.

 

Livestock farming also contributes excessively to land use effects, since enormous amounts of crops are cultivated in order to feed the animals. Worldwide, livestock production occupies 70% of all land used for agriculture, which corresponds to 30% of the Earth's land surface.


Global meat production is expected to double to 465 million tonnes in 2050 due to people eating more meat and diary products.

 

Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "Climate change is something that will affect all of us, but by adjusting our diet we can already make a difference. Eating less meat will not only benefit your health, it will also lead to fewer harmful emissions. And by choosing to buy only meat produced to higher animal welfare standards you will help animals and the climate alike."

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Call to stop painful slaughter method

 

12 August 08

The painful practice of hanging birds upside down for slaughter should be phased out over the next few years, according to an influential organisation dedicated to animal welfare. The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), an independent body which advises the British government, has been researching the slaughter of birds such as broilers, turkeys and geese, and will be releasing a report in the next few months. Professor David Henderson said they were greatly concerned about so-called live shackling. This involves hanging birds upside down in a shackle. It is known to be painful for birds as it puts pressure on the periosteum, a very sensitive tissue.

 

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes their comments, as it is already campaigning for live shackling to be phased out. Currently poultry are shackled on automated lines whenever electrical waterbaths are used to stun the animals.

 

The European Food Safety Authority said that hanging birds upside down on shackles is extremely stressful, and that this physiologically abnormal position can also lead to many injuries and occasional painful pre stun shocks.

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Call for quick decision on primates at risk

of extinction

 

7 August 08

Eurogroup urges the European Commission to adopt new legislation on animals used in research as soon as possible after new figures revealed that half of the world's primates species are at risk of extinction. It is expected that the new EU rules will include an end to the use of wild-caught primates and great apes for research, whereas Eurogroup will be campaigning for a full phase-out of primate testing.

 

This week a review of the world's 634 kinds of primates species was published showing that almost half of them are being threatened with extinction. This has been reason for Eurogroup for Animals to write to the Commission to urge them to hurry up with the publication of their proposal which has already been delayed for months. The revision could do much to help reduce the need for millions of animals being used in tests but in particular for the 10,000 primates being used each year.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "The capturing, transport and confinement of wild-caught primates is extremely stressful for such highly intelligent and social animals. There is no justification for the use of wild-caught animals in testing and we would like to see an EU ban in place as a matter of urgency.


"If the EU is serious about contributing to maintaining biodiversity, addition to the use of primates in research, the EU should carefully monitor the import of primates for other purposes and introduce restrictions in order to protect wild populations."

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Animal welfare champion passes away

 

1 August 08
A leading animal welfare supporter has died suddenly after campaigning for more than 50 years.
Hans-Peter Haering worked tirelessly to make the world a better place for animals, and served as both director of the Schweizer Tierschutz STS and president of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).


His first steps as animal welfare campaigner were taken in 1956, when he became the secretary of the Basler Tierschutzvereins and in 1960 he became director of the Schweitzer Tierschutz STS. Mr Haering joined WSPA in 1960 and was made president in 1996. His dedicated work to animal welfare was recognised in 2004 with the WSPA's Janeth Demoth-Award.

Eurogroup for Animals is sad to hear of his death. WSPA and the Schweitzer Tierschutz STS are members of Eurogroup, and through the years there were many opportunities to campaign together.

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: "The death of Hans-Peter Haering is a great loss to the world of animal welfare, and he will be greatly missed. His work was an inspiration to everyone who is dedicated to improve the treatment of animals."

Call for ban on cloning following publication EFSA report

 

24 July 08

Eurogroup for Animals is calling for the European Commission to ban the cloning of animals for food immediately after a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published today outlined grave concerns over its impact on animal welfare while emphasising there are still too many uncertainties about the technology.

 

Eurogroup for Animals, which helped to advise EFSA on the animal welfare aspects, is now urging the Commission to ban the trade and import of products from cloned animals and their offspring once and for all. It is also encouraging the Commission to listen to the advice of its own European Group on Ethics which concluded in January there is no justifiable reason to approve cloning for food. Cloning is an incredibly wasteful process with only about five animals out of a 100 being born alive. The ones who do live die earlier and suffer from more defects than normal animals.

 

Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals, said: "The science is now there. The evidence is clear: there are problems with it.

 

"The EU is now obligated to follow its own rules. Under the general farm directive a breeding technique that causes suffering should not be allowed. The treaty protocol on animal welfare says full regards should be paid to the welfare of animals. In the light of these legal obligations, it leaves the EU with only one option: to ban animal cloning for food."

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EU shows it is serious about animal welfare with seal trade ban

 

The European Union today showed it is willing to fight over animal welfare with a proposed trade ban on seal products. Following trade bans on cosmetics tested on animals and cruelly produced fur of cat and dogs, the European Commission today believes that a trade ban on animal welfare grounds is an acceptable measure in terms of world trade rules.

 

The European Commission today adopted a proposal to ban the trade and import of seal products throughout the EU, but included exemptions for countries that can prove that their seals were killed humanely.

 

Eurogroup welcomes the proposal as a step in the right direction, but feels a comprehensive ban is needed to ensure that countries are not using the loopholes to continue the cruel seal hunts.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: " We see the proposal as a victory of public moral, the wishes of citizens over pure trade concerns. We need to have the right to refuse products on our markets which are produced with animal suffering.

 

"We will be calling on the European Parliament and the member states to strip the proposal of its exemptions and turn it into something Europeans can be proud of."

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Eurogroup director honoured with award

 

Eurogroup director Sonja Van Tichelen has been given a prestigious award in honour of her contribution to animal welfare. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) presented her with the award during its annual general meeting on 28 June. The British animal welfare organisation, which is one of the largest in the world, praised the way Mrs Van Tichelen had transformed Eurogroup into a modern, well-run organisation, and how her strategic thinking and organisation skills have led to important wins for animals such as bans on the battery cage and an end to the use of veal crates.

 

Mrs Van Tichelen joined Eurogroup as a campaign coordinator in 1992. In 1997 she was promoted to deputy director before becoming director in 2004. Under her leadership, Eurogroup embarked on an ambitious expansion programme to represent animal welfare organisations all over the European Union. It is now the number one organisation for advising European institutions on animal welfare issues, while it continues to succeed in getting the Union to adopt higher legal standards.

Salmon report links health to welfare

 

Good welfare is vital to the health of Atlantic salmon, according to a new opinion published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on the animal welfare aspects of husbandry systems for farmed Atlantic salmon.

 

The report states that poor welfare makes the fish more susceptible to diseases, and encourages the adoption of measures to improve welfare at each stage of the life cycle. Water quality and stocking density were cited as factors that are essential to the welfare of Atlantic salmon.

 

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes that the report explicitly links the fish's health to their welfare, and calls for welfare standards for fish farming to be improved. Scientific research has shown that fish are capable of perceiving pain and as such are entitled to being treated well.

 

Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding business and 40% of fish consumed come from fish farms. They are farmed in a very intensive way, which means a large number of fish is being kept in a small area. As a result there are health and welfare problems.

 

Now that the EU's action plan on sustainable aquaculture is being revised this autumn, Eurogroup would like to see the adoption of standards for animal welfare for farmed fish in line with available scientific studies. There will be other EFSA scientific opinions coming up on fish such as trout and sea bass.

 

To read a CIWF report on the issue, click here.

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Organic pigs to be anaesthetised before castration


Piglets will need to be anaesthetised before castration if food products derived from them are to be labelled as organic. The Commission has included this in the new organic implementing rules it has agreed, which are expected to be published before September. Some member states have asked for a compromise on a transition period, so the new rules will not enter into force before 1 January 2012.

 

Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed the news as it believes animals must be spared any avoidable excitement, pain or suffering. It also urges the Commission to propose the measure for all piglets, including those reared for the non-organic market.

 

Paul McCartney supports demonstrators in call for ban on trade in seal products

 

Rock legend Paul McCartney joined concerned citizens from all over Europe in their call for a strong EU ban on the trade in seal products as they demonstrated outside the offices of the European Commission in Brussels today. Organised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Humane Society International (HSI), GAIA and Eurogroup for Animals, the peaceful demonstration attracted people from across the European Union and beyond, including countries such as Germany, Slovakia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Finland, UK, Sweden, Italy, and Croatia.

 

The Commission is expected to publish a proposal on a possible ban soon. The date of the demonstration was selected to coincide with the start of the French presidency and the start of the Namibian seal hunt, which is the second largest one in the world.

 

Paul McCartney paid tribute to the demonstrators in a surprise video message shown on a screen. The dedicated animal welfare supporter said: "Stopping the import of seal fur into the European Union could really put an end to this brutality once and for all - please ask the EU to ban this terrible trade today."

 

click to see pictures of the demonstration

 

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Council reaches agreement on plant protection products


The Council of the European Union has reached political agreement on a regulation about the placing on the market of plant protection products. Chemicals used to kill pests and protect plants are tested on animals. This is why Eurogroup has been working to avoid duplicate animal testing and promotion of alternative methods in the revision of the plant protection products legislation. Once the Council adopts their common position on the text, the European Parliament will have three months to adopt their position.


 

Commissioner pledges support to developing alternatives to animal tests


Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has committed to strengthening the role of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods to help develop more alternatives to animal testing. The commissioner made the pledge while addressing a meeting of the EP Intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animals in Strasbourg.

The Commission is currently working on a revision of the directive on animal experimentation, and Mr Dimas said he was personally pushing to have the proposal adopted before the summer break. He added the proposal would also include new legislation on the use of non-human primates. MEPs have been calling for their use to be phased out.

 

International demonstration to call for strong ban on seal products

 

Campaigners from all over Europe will be travelling to Brussels on 1 July to demonstrate in support of an unconditional EU-wide ban on seal products. Organised by IFAW, Humane Society International (HSI), GAIA and Eurogroup for Animals, the demonstration will take place outside the offices of the European Commission, to urge them to impose a strong ban now.

The demonstration will feature people from all over the European Union (click for more information).

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New annual report has been published

 

Eurogroup for Animals is proud to present its new annual report. The report shows the many opportunities there have been over the past year to put animal welfare on the top of the political agenda.

With support of our ever growing number of members societies, we have worked hard to highlight opportunities to improve animal protection as well as to alert legislators to dangers of new policy decisions. To download a copy of the report, click here.

Eurogroup has also produced a new leaflet to inform people about what we do. To download a copy of the leaflet, click here.

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Dr Jane Goodall receives European award in recognition of work

 

World-renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall has received an award for outstanding service to animal welfare from Eurogroup for Animals. It is in recognition of her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, her dedicated work to protect them and their habitats, and her continuing campaign against the use of non-human primates in research and testing.

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Parliament calls for more focus on animal welfare


The European Parliament approved today a report that asks for less livestock transport and limits on the size of farms as a way of reducing the risk of animal diseases spreading. Eurogroup for Animals urges the European Commission to take up the recommendations of this report, whose objective is to strengthen the EU animal health strategy.

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Islamic leader condemns animal suffering


A prominent Islamic leader has issued a fatwa to condemn suffering caused by slaughter and the long distance transport of animals.

 

Dr Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, the Grand Sheikh of one of the most respected Islamic Universities in the world, the Al Ahzar University in Cairo, said in his legal opinion or fatwa: “We hereby say that the call of Islam is to be lenient with the animal and to treat it with mercy, among which is transporting the animal.” He also added: “The Islamic law has made it a must that the animal would be treated at the time of its slaughter with lenience and by the means that guarantee treating it with mercy.”

 

The opinion was prompted by a question by the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends (ESAF), a WSPA member society in Egypt. The legal opinion has been welcomed by Eurogroup for Animals, which is dedicated to improving the treatment of animals.

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Study calls for end to inhumane practices


Study calls for end to inhumane practices

Intensive farming leads to unacceptable risk to people’s health, animal’s welfare, and the environment, according to an independent American study. The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production studied industrial farming in the States for 2.5 years and concluded drastic changes will need to be made.

 

One of its recommendations is to phase out inhumane production practices such as gestation crates and battery cages within a decade. The current system increases the risk of animals becoming stressed and ill, and the risk of diseases spreading from animals to humans. The report also explicitly links food safety to the health of the animals producing the food.

 

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the independent report that highlights the pitfalls of modern agriculture and its attention to animal welfare. Higher welfare standards would benefit animals and humans alike.

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Call for seal products ban hits the headlines


A press conference to call for a ban on seal products across the European Union has made headlines across the world. The press conference in Brussels was held on Friday by Eurogroup for Animals, together with member organisations IFAW, HSI and GAIA to encourage the Commission to go ahead with the ban.

 

Reports on the call for a ban appeared in English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch on about 250 websites from Australia, to Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, the US, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. These included websites by prestigious publications such as the International Herald Tribune, the Washington Post, the Globe and Mail, De Morgen, and Le Figaro. Three television crews were also present at the press conference to report on it.

 

Eurogroup welcomes this wide media interest, which shows people care deeply about a ban on seal products. It urges the Commission to do the right thing and impose a ban now.

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More news...

 

Forum to discuss benefits animal welfare


Eurogroup for Animals is one of the organisers of the International Forum on Global Aspects of Farm Animal Welfare, which is taking place in Brussels on 22-23 April. The forum brings together anyone from farmers, retailers, politicians, academics, and animal welfare organisations to discuss the development of standards for animal welfare on a global scale. Eurogroup members RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals are also involved in the event, as are the European Commission trade and health and consumers services.

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Retail project calls attention to free-rangeeggs


Five of Eurogroup’s member organisations have joined forces to work together on a unique retail project. Animal welfare organisations Klub Gaja and OTOZ in Poland, Fauna Society in Hungary, Nadace na Ochranu Zvirat in the Czech Republic, and Sloboda Zvierat in Slovakia all surveyed supermarkets in their own country on eggs from non-caged chickens. Their research revealed that many supermarkets are still failing to meet increasing demand for eggs from non factory farmed chickens. In a survey done by the European Union last year, 59% of people in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic said they would be willing to change their usual place of shopping in order to buy more animal welfare friendly products.

 

This project is the first animal welfare initiative to be given a grant by the prestigious Visegrad Fund, which finances joint ventures between the four countries. They will all be publishing the result of their survey this month.

 

EU rules no exemption on slaughteringfor Romania


The European Commission has refused to grant an exemption on cultural grounds to Romania over the home slaughter of pigs at Christmas. Many Romanian families kill one or two pigs in the festive season by slitting the animals' throats, which contravenes a European directive that stipulates pigs, sheep and goats should be stunned first if they are being killed at home for own consumption.

An investigation by Eurogroup for Animals and Vier Pfoten Romania uncovered that the practice is still widespread in the country. In reply to a Eurogroup letter alerting it on this worrying situation, the Commission admitted that Romania was in breach of European legislation. The Commission has now told the country to take action.

Eurogroup for Animals believes tradition should never be used as an excuse to make animals suffer unnecessarily.

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New commissioner pledges animalwelfare improvements

 

New health commissioner Androula Vassiliou has promised to improve livestock transport as part as part of new measures to improve animals’ welfare. The former lawyer, who is following in the footsteps of Markos Kyprianou, was yesterday questioned by European parliamentarians to assess her suitability. Vasiliou, who will also be responsible for animal health and welfare, said she had watched videos on animal transport which made her feel ashamed. Her directorate would discuss a new proposal regarding stocking densities and transport duration.

In her speech Vasiliou also confirmed her commitment to animal welfare. She said: “I am very concerned about the decent treatment of animals, and feel there is a lot of room for improving animal welfare.”

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes this commitment and looks forward to working with her.

 

Decision to allow hormone-fed beef criticised


Eurogroup for Animals and other NGOs have hit out at a decision to force hormone-fed beef on consumers in Europe. The World Trade Organisation ruled this week that the European Union should lift its ban on the import of US and Canadian hormone-fed beef or face commercial sanctions.


The decision has been condemned by Eurogroup, Friends of the Earth Europe, RSPCA, WSPA and Compassion in World Farming, as they believe people are entitled to choose what they eat. Two thirds of consumers admitted to being concerned about residues in meats from antibiotics or hormones in a European-wide survey.

Adolfo Sansolini, trade policy advisor for Eurogroup, said: "The WTO has got to allow its member countries the freedom to decide how their food is produced. We are sorry to notice that these non-trade concerns are still considered just as a trade barrier."

 

Seal hunters under scrutiny


Seal hunters in Canada are having their bloody work exposed by two of Eurogroup for Animals’ member organisations. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Humane Society of the United States have been closely monitoring the hunters with the help of helicopters and cameras since the hunt started at the end of last week. Already more than 1,000 animals have been killed out of the 275,000 allowed by the Canadian government this year. Footage shot by IFAW shows how the hunters kill the seals and in one video how a bleeding seal is being dragged across the ice.

Eurogroup for Animals welcomes this close scrutiny as it enables people to see for themselves what cruel actions are behind the trade in seal fur. The Netherlands and Belgium have already banned the import of seal fur, and the European Union is currently considering whether to adopt a European-wide ban.

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Americans oppose food from cloned animals


The majority of Americans surveyed would not want to eat food products from cloned animals, according to a Food and Drug Administration report just published in the US. Each of the focus groups surveyed for the report brought up serious health and ethical concerns, and all of the parents questioned said they would never give food products from cloned animals to their own children.

Eurogroup for Animals believes this demonstrates that cloning for food is unwanted on both sides of the Atlantic, which is why the EU should ban the practice as well as the import of food products from cloned animals and their offspring.

Director Sonja Van Tichelen said: “Consumers in neither America nor Europe want to have food products from clones or their offspring, so why introduce it in the first place?”

 

Survey shows support for grant cuts for farmers who break rules


Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed a new survey which shows nearly nine out of ten European citizens support payments being cut for farmers who ignore animal welfare standards.

According to a Eurobarometer published today 86% of respondents believe that a reduction of payments based on non-compliance with animal welfare standards would be justified.

The survey was conducted among thousands of people across the whole of Europe and shows there is support for a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The European Union is currently reviewing the policy, and Eurogroup urges politicians to give more money to farmers who exceed standards for animal welfare. The results of the new survey demonstrate people care deeply about how animals are being treated and want to see this reflected in the grants.

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New commissioner for animal health


Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the European Union’s new health commissioner, who will also be responsible for animal health and welfare.

Androula Vassiliou is taking over from Markos Kyprianou, who has left the post to become foreign minister in his native Cyprus. Kyprianou was committed to improving conditions for animals, and had intended to come with proposals on livestock transport before the end of his mandate.

His successor Vassiliou is also from Cyprus, where she worked as a lawyer and served as a health minister. She has been very active on human rights and the environment. She will be formally confirmed during a hearing in Parliament next month.

Eurogroup is looking forward to working with her and to discussing ways to improve the treatment of animals.

 

Eurogroup initiates coalition to ban cloning


Eurogroup has brought together a monster coalition of organisations representing anything from farmers, scientists, consumers to environmentalists to voice the widespread concerns about cloning.

The coalition has written an open letter to the European Commission to call for an immediate ban on the cloning of animals for food production, and on the import and sale of imported food products from cloned animals and their offspring.

Signatories from 20 different organisations point out that cloning is inefficient, would greatly reduce genetic diversity within livestock populations, and would encourage people to view farm animals as commodities rather than sentient beings.

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MEPs call for ban on cloning


European parliamentarians are calling for the European Union to ban cloning of animals for food and any products derived from their offspring.

Members of the European Parliamentary Intergroup on Animal Welfare voted in Strasbourg in favour of a motion for a resolution to be presented to Parliament. The resolution urges the European Commission to prohibit cloning of animals for food and any products from cloned animals and their offspring.

News of the draft motion has been welcomed by animal welfare organisation Eurogroup for Animals, which provides the secretariat for the Intergroup and also favours an immediate ban.

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Action needed on animal tests


The European Union should look for new initiatives to speed up the replacement of animal tests with reliable cruelty-free alternatives, members of European Parliament will be told.

 

Together with Jens Holm MEP, Eurogroup for Animals is co-hosting a hearing on alternatives to animal experiments at the European Parliament on February 13.

 

Director Sonja Van Tichelen will use the opportunity to argue the European Union should come up with a strategy to start replacing animal tests immediately. Already animal-free tests have proved to be more effective in most cases.

 

Eurogroup urges the Commission to release the New European legislation replacing the 1986 animal experiments directive as a matter of urgency.

 

Other speakers include, Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment, and Neil Parish, president of the all-party Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.

 

Progress Without Pain; Alternatives to Animal Experiments. Wednesday 13 February 5pm – 7pm. European Parliament, Brussels.

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Calls to stop the use of animals in shellfish testing


Eurogroup for Animals is calling for an immediate ban on animals being used to test shellfish for human consumption, after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific panel ruled it was a poor way of spotting potentially lethal toxins.

 

The panel analysed the different methods to detect toxins in shellfish at the request of the European Commission, and concluded using animals was a flawed method of uncovering the harmful substances. As a result EFSA is recommending the European Union to use alternative, animal-friendly tests instead.

 

Eurogroup has now written to Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health at the European Commission, to call for an immediate end to the ineffectual tests that kill animals needlessly.

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Call to stop suffering of pigs slaughtered in Romania without being stunned


Eurogroup for Animals and Vier Pfoten Romania are calling for an end to the Romanian practice of slaughtering pigs at home for Christmas without stunning them first.

 

Their investigation has uncovered that the cruel practice is still widespread in the country despite contravening a European Union directive stating animals must be killed without unnecessary suffering.

 

The two groups have now written to Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health at the European Commission, to demand action.

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Slovenian Presidency urged to act on
animals

 

Eurogroup met with the Slovenian permanent Representation to discuss what could be done for animals during their presidency of the European Union. The animal welfare organisation called for a ban of animal cloning for food production, asked that laboratory animals are better protected under European legislation, and urged that the ban on battery cages for laying hens from 2012 be kept. The demands and the reasoning behind it were laid out in a memorandum which was presented to the Slovenians.

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Cloning for Food Unethical says the EU
Ethics Group

 

Animal cloning for food supply is unethical, according to the Opinion of the European Group on Ethics (EGE), published on 17 January. In the conclusions of its Opinion, the Group states that it "does not see convincing arguments to justify the production of food from clones and their offspring". A few days before, the European Food Safety Authority had published a draft Opinion which concluded that "the health and welfare of a significant proportion of clones has been found to be adversely affected". Those elements reinforce Eurogroup's statement that cloning for food is totally unacceptable on both animal welfare and ethical grounds. Eurogroup therefore calls on the EU to immediately set up a ban on production and marketing of food from cloned animals.

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European Commission Confirms that Cruel Battery Cages Must go in 2012


Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed today's statement by the European Commission that the European Directive banning the keeping of laying hens in battery cages for the production of eggs from 2012 will go ahead as planned.


This follows the adoption of a new report on battery cages by the Commission and is the only logical conclusion due to clear scientific evidence showing that hens suffer in battery cages and consumer rejection of this cruel production system.

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New EU Treaty: a Positive Step for Citizens
and Animals


Today 13 December in Lisbon, EU heads of States and Governments will sign the new European Union Treaty. Eurogroup welcomes the integration into the Lisbon Treaty of the text of the Protocol on protection and welfare of animals, originally an annex to the Amsterdam Treaty. According to this article, the EU and its Member States should pay full regard to the requirements of animal welfare in formulating and implementing their policies, notably in the the areas of agriculture and research. Eurogroup greets this necessary step for better animal protection in Europe, as well as the other positive elements included in the new Treaty. They will make decision-making in the EU clearer and more transparent. Citizens concerns will be better echoed in the EU, with increased powers for the European and national parliaments, and the recognition of citizen’s petitions. Thus, the EU should better hear the increasing concerns of its citizens for animal protection.

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A Eurogroup call to end Piglet Castration


A new Europe-wide survey shows that the majority of farmers is ignoring the suffering piglet castration causes and is even unwilling to use pain-relief because of the extra costs involved. The result of this survey were presented during the recently-held PIG-CAS stakeholder conference – an EU-funded project that aims to collect and evaluate information on different attitudes to this issue to support future EU policy – in which Eurogroup participated. Following those findings, Eurogroup called on European farmers and retailers to end this practice. If farmers keep on keeping their eyes closed on the reality on the suffering they inflict, it is then for retailers to take their responsibilities. They should follow the exemple of Dutch retailers, who have decided to stop selling meat from castrated pigs from January 2009.

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Europe says no to cat and dog fur


Eurogroup greets the decision made by Member States in the Agriculture Council to adopt an EU-wide ban on the trade in cat and dog fur. The ban, which concerns the placing on the market, the import and the export of furs from the Felis silvestris and Canis lupus familiaris species, will apply from 31st December 2008. The EU as a whole joins countries such as Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden which already had such a ban. Eurogroup is delighted about this decision and urges the EU to now equip itself with similar bans on other types of products derived from animal suffering, notably a ban on the import of seal products.

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Agricultural Policy: little scope to improve animal welfare in Commission Communication


The European Commission Communication on the CAP Health Check published today (20 Nov) misses the opportunity to make EU subsidies more animal welfare friendly. Eurogroup welcomes the proposal to increase the transfer of money from direct payments to rural development measures but regrets that its demands for more drastic increase and an obligation to use part of the funds to improve animal welfare have not been heard.

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12.1 million lab animals used in the EU


The number of animals used in experiments in the EU increased from 10.7 million in 2002 to 12.1 million in 2005, according to the fifth statistical report of the European Commission published on 8 November. Part of the increase is due to the inclusion of the 10 new Member States in the report for the first time, although the numbers in EU-15 also increased by 3.5%. Eurogroup believes these statistics show the strong need for all Member States to focus more on the development and use of alternative methods and for the European Commission to speed up the revision of Directive 86/609 which regulates the use of animals in experiments.

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Successful vote on Pesticides!


On 23 October, Members of the European Parliament voted at first reading on amendments to the Commission proposal on the revision of the Directive concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. They overwhelmingly supported key animal welfare amendments that bring progress in the areas of obligatory data sharing and inclusion of non-animal test methods.

 

Obligatory data sharing should avoid duplication of animal testing, through the setting up of a central database. Inclusion of non-animal test methods and ‘Intelligent/integrated’ testing strategies should ensure that the testing data requirements are defined with an obligation to minimise animal testing and ensure the application of non-animal test methods and intelligent testing strategies. The proposal will be sent to the Council which will have to adopt its first reading decision before the end of January.

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New Publication Urges Retailers to Improve
Animal Welfare

As top European retailers met in Prague for the CIES (International Committee of Food Retail Chains) conference on 11 October, Eurogroup for Animals launched a major new publication to help retailers understand more about animal welfare and urge them to adopt more animal-friendly policies.

 

The new guide – called “Responsible Retailing, Putting Animal Welfare at the Heart of Your Food Products Supply Chain” – was distributed at the conference in a bid to show retailers that animal welfare can and should be improved as part of sustainability development in the supply chain.

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Animal Cloning for Food Unacceptable for
Eurogroup

Eurogroup for Animals expressed its opposition to cloning of animals for food production at the occasion of the Biotechnology Forum Meeting on animal cloning for food production, held in Brussels in September. This event took place a few days before the European Group on Ethics (EGE) roundtable debate on the same subject. Eurogroup underlined the unacceptability of animal cloning for food production. It is indeed proved the cloning process is inefficient. In addition, both the animals used during the cloning process and the cloned animals endure unnecessary pain, suffering and distress.

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EU Animal Health Strategy: missed
opportunity for Animal Welfare

Much more could have been achieved for animal welfare through the new animal health strategy launched on 19 September by the European Commission. The initial study, supporting the strategy, was explicit about the dangers of poor welfare and animal transport in particular, to animal health and the spread of diseases. However, the key strategic position of animal welfare in the first draft of the strategy has now been eroded, with most references to animal welfare being simply removed. Eurogroup regrets that preventive high animal welfare measures are not anymore part of the strategy.

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Primate Resolution adopted!
Commission Action now needed

Eurogroup congratulates the Members of the European Parliament who supported the Written Declaration on the use of primates in scientific experiments. This comes after Eurogroup and its Members have put a lot of efforts into informing MEPs on the need to end primates testing. The Declaration has received much more than the required 393 signatures, showing the European Parliament's concerns about the issue match the ones of the European citizens. The Parliament Resolution will now be sent to the Commission for action. Eurogroup urges the Commission to include the measures proposed in the Resolution (a phase-out on the use of Great Apes and wild-caught non-human primates and a timetable to replace primate use with alternatives) in the revision of EU Directive 86/609/EEC on animal experimentation, which is due to be published any moment now.

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Decisive Week for the Primates Declaration: 393 Signatures in Sight!

This European Parliament Plenary week will be decisive for the adoption of the Written Declaration on the use of Primates in Scientific Experiments. Now that the symbolic number of 300 signatures has been accomplished and passed, the required number of 393 signatures is more than ever reachable. Until the final deadline of 6 September, Eurogroup and some of its members will be in Strasbourg. They will put all their energy in urging the remaining Members of the European Parliament who have not yet signed to give their support to the declaration.

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European Commission launches debate on Sustainable Consumption and Production

In the context of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, the Commission is preparing a Communication on how consumption and production can contribute to achieve sustainable development. An internet consultation (deadline 16 September) on this topic will gather ideas and input from stakeholders. Eurogroup has written to the Commission signalling the omission of animal welfare related topics in the Consultation although the EU strategy includes the aim of promoting high levels of animal welfare and health. In a report on "win-win opportunities", Eurogroup lists different ways in which high animal welfare standards can contribute to sustainable development targets.

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World Congress on Alternatives: more can be done

From 21 to 25 August, Eurogroup for Animals participated in the Sixth World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, in Tokyo, Japan. This Congress aimed to provide a global overview on the present status of the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) in education, research and testing. It gathered around 800 people from animal welfare organisations, industry, government institutions and academia. During the Congress, Eurogroup presented the results of a survey on the availability of public funding for 3R alternatives, conducted in collaboration with ECOPA (the European Consensus Platform for 3R Alternatives) and Procter & Gamble. Eurogroup once again emphasized the need to do more in terms of availability of public funding for alternatives.

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Recent case shows another example of animal mistreatment in transport

A recent inspection report has given yet another example of the common appalling treatment of animals during long-distance transport. The inspection has found evidences that pigs had been transported from the Netherlands to Spain without a rest stop under a temperature of 37°. The pigs, compressed in an over-crowded lorry, did not have access to water or food. 13 were found dead at the end of the journey. Eurogroup for Animals denounces this glaring case, which is just another proof that the new EU regulation on live animals transport is still largely ignored by transporters. Eurogroup for Animals calls on Member States to urgently ensure that such infringements to the EU live animal transport legislation be severely punished.

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Primates Declaration Reaches 300 Signatures!

Eurogroup for Animals is delighted that the Written Declaration on the use of Primates in Scientific Experiments has now been signed by 300 Members of the European Parliament. This symbolic number means that the decisive target of 393 signatures, which represents the majority of the MEPs, is definitely in reach. Only 93 signatures are still needed before 6 September for the Declaration to become a formal position of the European Parliament. Eurogroup believes this would be a clear call on the Commission to use the current revision of Directive 86/609/EC to phase out the use of all primates in scientific experiments.

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A new step towards a cat and dog fur ban

A decisive step has been taken towards establishing an EU ban on the trade in cat and dog fur. On June 19th, the European Parliament adopted a report approving a Regulation which prohibits the placing on the market and the import and export of cats and dogs furs and products containing this fur. A compromise was also reached between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. The ban will come into force on 31 December 2008. Eurogroup welcomes the fact that, following a lengthy debate, there are only minor exemptions from the ban and that the definition of cats and dogs includes feral animals. This ban will contribute to the relief of the 2 million cats and dogs worldwide that are killed for fur each year.

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Mixed results at CITES CoP 14

A number of wild animal species which are currently traded will be more effectively protected as a result of decisions taken at the 14th CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP), which met in The Hague from 3 to 15 June.


The slow loris (a tropical primate heavily used for the pet trade), sawfishes and the Algerian slender-horned gazelle will now be listed under Appendix I of the Convention, which means that they can no longer be traded at all. The European eel is to be added to Appendix II, which means that they can only be traded under strict, monitored conditions. The CoP also took the decision to prohibit the rearing of tigers for their body parts.

Further good news is a nine-year moratorium on the trade of elephants or their body parts, including ivory, so as to allow populations to recover. There will, however, be a one off sale of registered ivory by four countries - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe - which will be conducted under strict CITES supervision. Whilst this is a long way from the 20-year moratorium proposed by Kenya and Mali, it is nevertheless positive that a consensus was reached between African Range States which at least recognised the need for a period without trade.

Unfortunately, the CoP also took decisions detrimental to wildlife conservation, including the adoption of a new quota for trade in Ugandan leopard trophies, a doubling in Mozambique's quota for leopard trophies and by rejecting proposals to list two shark species currently threatened by over-fishing.

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Agricultural Policy: little scope to improve animal welfare in Commission Communication


The European Commission Communication on the CAP Health Check published today (20 Nov) misses the opportunity to make EU subsidies more animal welfare friendly. Eurogroup welcomes the proposal to increase the transfer of money from direct payments to rural development measures but regrets that its demands for more drastic increase and an obligation to use part of the funds to improve animal welfare have not been heard.

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12.1 million lab animals used in the EU


The number of animals used in experiments in the EU increased from 10.7 million in 2002 to 12.1 million in 2005, according to the fifth statistical report of the European Commission published on 8 November. Part of the increase is due to the inclusion of the 10 new Member States in the report for the first time, although the numbers in EU-15 also increased by 3.5%. Eurogroup believes these statistics show the strong need for all Member States to focus more on the development and use of alternative methods and for the European Commission to speed up the revision of Directive 86/609 which regulates the use of animals in experiments.

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Animal welfare veal not labelled as veal

At the 11 June Agriculture Council meeting, EU Member States adopted a Regulation on traceability and labelling of meat of young bovines. In some languages, including English, the term ‘veal’ will be reserved for animals aged less than 8 months, excluding animals from 8 to 12 months reared under the higher welfare ‘rosé veal’ production system. Eurogroup regrets that this decision, taken under the pressure of white veal producers, will not help the consumer to buy animal welfare friendly veal. From a very early age, veal calves need fibrous food and additional iron in their food, and the almost exclusive milk diet of calves raised to produce 'white veal' makes them anaemic animals. Eurogroup’s contribution during the consultation on the definition of the term 'veal calf' has been totally ignored, as has been the EU obligation to pay full regard to animal welfare in its agricultural policy.

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Whale hunting ban confirmed twice  at international level

Two successive attempts by pro-whaling nations to reopen commercial trade in whale products have failed recently. On 6 June, Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) rejected by 54 votes to 26 a proposal by Japan to review the population status of all 13 great whale species protected by CITES. A few days before, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) had adopted at its annual meeting a resolution strengthening the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling by 37 votes to 4. The IWC also passed a resolution condemning Japan's abuses of special permit whaling (the so-called "scientific whaling" program). This confirms the strong conservation majority at international level, against repeated attempts by countries such as Japan, Norway and Iceland to promote whale meat trade.

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CITES CoP14 discusses trade in  endangered species

The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP14) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) is taking place in The Hague from 3 to 15 June. The aim of CITES is to regulate trade in wildlife. The Conference of the Parties will look at proposals to strengthen or weaken the protection of a number of wild animal species, such as elephants, gazelles, leopards, sharks… Together with the Species Survival Network of which it is a member, Eurogroup has been participating in consultation meetings on the EU position on the different proposals for discussion at the conference. Eurogroup supports SSN views on the proposals.

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McDonald's phases out battery eggs

MacDonald's Belgium has announced that it will stop the use of battery eggs in all its salads. This will result in some 2 000 laying hens being spared very harsh conditions which prevent them from expressing their natural behaviour. Eurogroup would like to congratulate our Belgian Member Gaia, whose relentless campaign has led to this success. Gaia officially thanked MacDonald's on 11 May in one of its Belgian Restaurant. MacDonald's can now be added to the growing list of Belgian Retailers and Food Producers which have already phased out the use of battery cage eggs. Nevertheless, MacDonald's still has a little way to go, as the chain still uses battery eggs in its sauces.

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EU Broiler Directive to provide only minimum protection

During the Agriculture Council of 7 May, EU Agriculture Ministers reached political agreement on the Broiler Directive. Unfortunately, the version which was agreed is very weak and will provide only minimum legal protection to meat chickens. The compromise text, which Member States will have to implement by 2010, introduces a maximum stocking density of 33 kg/m², with derogations allowing under certain conditions a maximum of 39 kg/m², and 42 kg/m² where prevailing conditions result in a low mortality rate. The Directive also sets rules concerning the animals' drinking facilities, feeding, litter, ventilation, heating, noise, light, cleanliness and surgical interventions. Eurogroup successfully fought to exclude from the text a labelling clause, which would have designated all chicken meat produced under the new regulations as being in line with EU animal welfare standards. Eurogroup is seriously critical of the Directive which it considers to be far too weak, serving only as an absolute legal minimum to be considerably strengthened in years to come.

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Animals no longer part of the environment according to Commission Communication on the 6th Environment Action Programme

Eurogroup for Animals is deeply disappointed that the Commission has omitted any reference to the protection of animals in its communication on the mid-term review of the 6th Environment Action Programme published on 3rd May. The communication makes no mention of future activities or progress, on those objectives in the 6th Environment Action Programme which relate to animals, such as measures to minimise the need for animal testing, even though the revised Directive on animal experimentation is due to be published this year.

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New Written Declaration on ending primate use in experiments

The European Parliament Declaration urges the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Member States to use the current revision of Directive 86/609/EC to end the use of apes and wild caught monkeys in scientific experiments. It also calls for the establishing of a timetable for replacing the use of all primates in scientific experiments with alternatives. The Declaration was presented on 23 April and the deadline for signature is 6 September 2007.

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Communication more important than
labelling says Eurogroup

At a conference on animal welfare labelling organised by the German Presidency on 28 March 2007, Eurogroup stated that an effective communication strategy is needed to assist consumers as they make their choices. Labelling is only one element of it and should never be seen as a replacement of legal standards.

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Commission to ask for an EFSA report on
seal hunting

On 15 February, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the Commission will soon make a legislative proposal on the seal trade after the release of an independent study by the European Food Safety Agency. Mr. Dimas also urged MEPs to lobby their member states to ban trade of seal products, as it would be then easier for the EC to take action on a European scale. Mr. Dimas was speaking at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament and received unanimous support from MEPs.

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Belgium bans trade in seal products

On 25 January 2007 the Belgian Parliament voted to implement a national ban on the import of all seal products, making Belgium the first nation in the European Union to do so. Eurogroup would like to congratulate its Belgian member organisation GAIA for this success!

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Eurogroup welcomes EU ban on wild birds imports

On 11 January 2007 the European Commission Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on new health rules for the import of wild birds from 1st July 2007. The new rules allow only the import into the EU of birds bred in captivity in approved establishments from a selected number of countries.

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EU citizens want better protection for lab animals

The results of a newly published EU consultation show wide public support for increased protection of laboratory animals. Over 80% of the people feel "more should be done" to improve the poor level of welfare of the animals and to inform the public on this issue.

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Joint declaration on animal welfare

At a joint workshop organised in November 2006 by the CoE, the EU and the OIE, a joint declaration entitled “Animal Welfare in Europe: achievements and future prospects” was adopted, which commits to greater cooperation on all aspects of animal welfare aiming at bridging the gap between animal welfare legislation and its practical application.

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Wild Birds

Eurogroup welcomes the report by EFSA which concludes that the welfare of birds captured in the wild and imported into the EU is very poor.

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Spanish Zoos

Eurogroup is calling on the European Commission to act against the Spanish authorities for not implementing the EU zoo Directive.

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A new look for Eurogroup

Eurogroup for Animals is the new name of Eurogroup for Animal Welfare.
Over the last 25 years, Eurogroup has been through many changes: more countries, more animal welfare issues.

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Sustainable development

References to animal welfare have been included in the renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

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Animal Welfare Action Plan

Eurogroup is delighted about overwhelming EP support for the Animal Welfare Action Plan, with 565 votes in favour and only 29 against.

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