#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
#Act4 Wildlife The European Commission (EC) has put forward a proposal to suggest a change in the status of wolves from ‘strictly protected' to ‘protected' under the Bern Convention, with the final decision resting on member states’ votes. This proposal, seemingly motivated by political gain, disregards evidence on coexistence and EU citizens’ preferences. European Commission proposes to downgrade the protection status of wolves against scientific evidence and democratic governance 20 December 2023 Press Release
#Act4 Aquatics Last week, the European Commission published its long-awaited proposal on animal welfare rules during transport. While the transport of terrestrial farm animals is a well-recognised issue, what are the key issues fish face during transport, and to what extent does the new proposal cover them? What does the EU’s new transport proposal mean for fish? 15 December 2023
#Act4 AnimalsEU On 22 November 2023, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a report on proposals for the amendment of the Treaties. European Parliament calls for exclusive Union competence on environment and biodiversity in amended treaties 14 December 2023
#Act4 FarmAnimals The long overdue proposal on animal transport is far from enough to protect the billions of animals transported each year, and fails to acknowledge several EFSA opinions on critical issues, presenting a missed opportunity by the European Commission (EC) to improve animal welfare. Animal transport proposal fails to make significant improvements for animal welfare 11 December 2023 Press Release
#Act4 Pets For the first time, the welfare of cats and dogs will be protected by EU legislation. The proposal is set to introduce long overdue measures on the traceability of cats and dogs, breeding practices and imported animals, but further work is required to tackle extreme breeding and online sales. Good news for cats and dogs: finally protected by EU legislation 8 December 2023
#Act4 Wildlife Fur farming and the placement of farmed fur products on the European market could finally be banned by EU law, but the European Commission (EC) failed to take a decision, instead opting to first await a scientific opinion by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Fur Free Europe ECI: pending EFSA opinion fur farms in Europe could finally be banned 7 December 2023 Press Release
#Act4 FarmAnimals On Sunday night, the European Commission headquarters in Brussels were lit up with bright lights beaming a clear message to EU policymakers: fulfil your promises on the Farm to Fork Strategy and the urgent transition toward sustainable food systems. NGOs demand action for sustainable food systems 6 December 2023
#Act4 AnimalsEU With the recent election of Javier Milei as President of Argentina, a far-right libertarian who has denied human-induced climate change, the European Commission is again accelerating the negotiations to finally conclude the EU-Mercosur trade agreement under the Brazilian presidency of Mercosur, before Javier Milei takes office on 10 December. Let’s not rush the EU-Mercosur trade agreement 4 December 2023