GAIA | Eurogroup for Animals

Belgium

GAIA (Global Action in the Interest of Animals) believes that animals should be treated with respect and have the right to a dignified existence. They work with businesses, inform citizens, organise actions and campaigns, educate young people and enter the dialogue with the competent authorities at regional, Belgian and European level.

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In the dairy industry, cows are repeatedly inseminated to stay pregnant in order to produce milk. Their calves are considered by-products, and are taken from their mothers to be reared in lonely environments. Each year, over 300,000 calves are raised and slaughtered in Belgium.

GAIA exposes cruelty towards calves in Belgium’s dairy industry

A new ruling maintains that a ban on slaughter without stunning in two Belgian regions is proportional and pursues a legitimate objective, that of ensuring animal welfare, in line with the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Belgian Constitutional Court.

European Court of Human Rights supports ban on slaughter without stunning

14 February 2024

On Wednesday 19 July, our member GAIA inaugurated the first virtual reality zoo alongside Prince Laurent of Belgium and Bernard Clerfayt, Brussels Minister for Animal Welfare. This zoo of the future immerses visitors in wild habitats in virtual reality, allowing them to observe all kinds of animals, from tigers and penguins to giraffes and elephants.

Launch of Europe's first virtual zoo

GAIA welcomes the new Flemish Animal Welfare legislation, saying it is a clear step forward for animal welfare but which has a number of major shortcomings which must be addressed. The revision was announced by Flemish Animal Welfare Minister Ben Weyts and agreed by the Flemish Government on Friday.

GAIA welcomes new animal welfare revision, but notes shortfalls

A new investigation from GAIA reveals how painful piglet castration really is. Every year millions of piglets are castrated in Flanders (Belgium) without anaesthesia, and GAIA is launching a petition to stop this practice.

New images from GAIA: millions of piglets castrated in Flanders without anaesthesia

Eurogroup for Animals and 6 animal welfare and conservation organisations sent a letter to the CEO of Adidas, asking the company to stop the production of shoes using kangaroo leather. This initiative follows the encouraging announcements by Nike and Puma to end the use of “k-leather” in their lines.

Adidas called on to drop kangaroo leather after Nike and Puma announce phase-out

In his own words, Flemish Animal Welfare Minister Ben Weyts said, "It is our damned duty to avoid animal suffering". With new investigative footage, GAIA is calling on the Minister to turn his words into actions and ban enriched cages in Flanders for more than 3,000,000 laying hens currently confined to the space of an A4 piece of paper.

GAIA calls on Flemish Animal Welfare Minister to do his damned duty for caged hens

Recently, the European Parliament hosted a meeting of the parliamentary Intergroup for Animal Welfare, in which footage was shown revealing the horrific reality of force-feeding in foie gras production on a farm in France. Ways forward to finally solve this problem in relation to EU law were suggested by attendees.

Force-feeding for foie gras: new investigation reveals this inhumane practice still occurs in the EU, despite high sanctions in most Member States

21 February 2023

In collaboration with our member organisation GAIA, the famous primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall has made a direct appeal to the Flemish Minister for Animal Welfare Ben Weyts and the Government of Flanders to stop the keeping and breeding of dolphins in captivity.

Jane Goodall calls on Belgium to free dolphins from captivity

While many of us look forward to the festive period, this calendar moment is unfortunately not so jolly for the turkeys, ducks and geese flying under the EU’s radar in the poultry sector.

Shining a light on cruelty this Christmas: Why we need better welfare standards for turkeys, ducks, and geese in the EU

8 December 2022

GAIA kicked off its 30th anniversary summer tour today on Place de la Monnaie in Brussels. The GAIA taste truck will be touring the country in the coming weeks. It is an opportunity for GAIA to thank people for their support of GAIA and their commitment to animal welfare, as well as conduct a survey about their main concerns and wishes concerning animal welfare in Belgium.

GAIA kicks off 30th anniversary summer tour in Brussels

Our Member Organisation GAIA have sent an open letter in Flemish newspapers calling on the Flemish Animal Welfare Minister to finally ban caged systems for laying hens in Flanders. They also launched a poster campaign throughout the region to raise extra visibility for the issue.

GAIA calls on Flemish animal welfare Minister to free caged hens