#Act4 AnimalsEU Thousands of farmers have been protesting across Europe in recent days, and many gather today in Brussels to denounce the unfair competition brought about by the implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) like the EU-Mercosur, and the resulting poor working conditions and low income. The time is right to finally drop the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement 2 February 2024 Press Release
The Vote for Animals campaign, launched by Eurogroup for Animals, aims to place animal welfare at the core of the upcoming EU Elections. The campaign encourages candidate MEPs to take a pledge for the animals, while informing citizens about the importance of these elections for progress on animal welfare in the EU, helping them to choose candidates that share their values and encouraging them to vote. Vote for Animals: placing animal welfare at the heart of the EU Elections 1 February 2024 Press Release
#Act4 FarmAnimals Two live animal transport vessels containing bulls from Portugal were detained for 19 days in the Moroccan port of Tangier-Med. Nearly three weeks of suffering for bulls trapped on trucks at the Moroccan border 31 January 2024
#Act4 FarmAnimals On 18 January, the European Parliament voted on a report regarding marketing standards in fisheries and aquaculture. The plenary approved wording that would limit the use of terms like ‘fish’ and the use of certain fish species, for example ‘tuna’, to describe plant-based alternatives to fish products. No need to fight over a fishless finger 30 January 2024
#Act4 Aquatics Last week the European Parliament issued a resounding call to the European Commission, urging the Common Fisheries Policy to improve the welfare of aquatic animals. European Parliament votes to address welfare through the Common Fisheries Policy 25 January 2024
#Act4 FarmAnimals Cultivated meat can be an important part of sustainable food systems, but debates on its future must be based on facts, Eurogroup for Animals warns, as false narratives are prevailing, with AGRIFISH debate steering away from cultivated meat's game-changing potential. The correct conversation around cultivated meat: more sustainability and animal welfare, less fear mongering 24 January 2024 Press Release
#Act4 Wildlife Under no circumstances can the welfare of animals in fur farms be protected, and a full ban is the only way forward, Eurogroup for Animals argued in the first stakeholder meeting of the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) to evaluate current practices on fur farms. EFSA stakeholder meeting on fur farming: first step towards ban? 23 January 2024
#Act4 LabAnimals In December 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport. The proposal explicitly recognises that animals transported for scientific purposes are covered by the Regulation. However, the lack of species-specific provisions addressing crucial factors such as fitness for transport and journey times raises deep concerns. What does the EU’s Transport Regulation proposal mean for animals used for scientific purposes? 19 January 2024
#Act4 Wildlife Despite the ever-growing biodiversity crisis, it is still legal to hunt endangered species for trophies, with elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions and polar bears often falling victim to this cruel practice. Trophy hunting helps conservation? The industry’s biggest myths debunked 18 January 2024 Four Paws
#Act4 Pets The breeding and trade of cats and dogs within the EU is a profitable economic sector; valued at over 1.3 billion € annually, it’s riddled with fraudulent activities that jeopardise the health and welfare of animals, compromise public health, undermine consumer protection and distort the internal market. Illegal pet trade: findings of the EU enforcement action plan 12 January 2024
#Act4 FarmAnimals The Belgian Presidency does not plan to address the proposal for animal transport in its term according to the programme of legislative files that will be worked on. The presidency of the Council is responsible for setting the agenda and facilitating dialogue between the Council and other EU institutions. It is now Belgium’s turn to take on the role until June of this year. Live animal transport proposal not a priority for Belgian presidency 10 January 2024
#Act4 FarmAnimals The European Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s (EC) failure to publish a legislative proposal to phase-out and ultimately ban cages for farm animals, in line with its official answer to the End the Cage Age European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). End the Cage Age: Ombudsman opens inquiry on European Commission’s failure to act 8 January 2024