#Act4 AnimalsEU On 13 July, Eurogroup for Animals and the Good Food Fund hosted the 9th UNFSS China Dialogue. The event, which gathered participants from the political, business, academic and NGO sectors, explored how the EU and China could cooperate to improve animal welfare, and therefore transition towards more sustainable food systems. Exploring EU-China cooperation to improve animal welfare and food systems 22 July 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU The documents published by the European Commission on 15 July 2021 confirm that, for the first time, the EU set an animal welfare-based condition in a trade agreement: EU-related standards must be applied to preferential imports of shelled eggs from Mercosur. Yet, while this is a significant precedent in trade policy, it is not sufficient to save the EU-Mercosur agreement as it stands. The EU sets precedent with the first animal welfare-based condition in a trade agreement 20 July 2021 Press Release
#Act4 AnimalsEU After several weeks of anticipation, the UK and Australia announced on 15 June that they have reached a political agreement on a trade deal. The future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will grant huge trade preferences to Australian beef and sheep meat, with no further condition on animal welfare standards. This is a dreadful precedent for UK trade policy. UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement sets a dangerous precedent for Animal Welfare 17 June 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU Yesterday, the European Parliament massively supported a resolution endorsing the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on banning cages and calling for future measures to apply to imports. Just earlier this week, the US notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the coming Californian ban on cages, which also prevents sales of such products in the State, showing the world that the EU will have support once it adopts its own ban. The EU and the US pave the way for a ban on cages imposed on imported food 11 June 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU A new study published by the European Commission proposes an improved methodology to assess the impacts of EU free trade agreements (FTAs) on biodiversity, paving the way for more robust Sustainable Impact Assessments (SIAs) of EU FTAs and for the strengthening of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters. EU publishes new methodology to assess impact of trade on biodiversity 7 June 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU Today, trade ministers meet in Brussels to discuss, amongst other issues, the state of play on the EU-Mercosur Agreement and how additional protocols and annexes could save the deal. The outgoing Portuguese Presidency is the second in a row failing to start the ratification processes because of the huge success of civil society criticising its enormous downsides. The EU should make a u-turn and stop the EU-Mercosur trade agreement 20 May 2021 Press Release
#Act4 AnimalsEU On 20 May, EU trade ministers will adopt their conclusions on the Trade Policy Review. As the review failed to address the impact of trade on animals, and to adapt EU trade policy to the challenges we face in the 21st century, we call on the EU to make a u-turn and finally ensure that its trade policy does not fuel unsustainable trade. Renegotiating the EU-Mercosur agreement to align the FTA with the objectives expressed in the Farm to Fork Strategy would be a first step in the right direction. The EU should make the EU-Mercosur Agreement compatible with the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy 20 May 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU As trade negotiations will soon start to review the market access provisions included in the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), Eurogroup for Animals calls on the EU to oppose granting further market access to Ukrainian animal food products until the country implements EU-equivalent standards. Ukraine must deliver on animal welfare before getting more access to EU market 17 May 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU On May 6th, Eurogroup for Animals and FIAPO (the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations) jointly hosted a webinar on the theme “Planting the Animal Welfare Seed in EU-India Trade Relations”, ahead of the EU-Indian Summit that was held on May 8th where India and the EU announced they will relaunch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). New report presents key recommendations on EU-India animal welfare cooperation as trade negotiations resume 12 May 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU The EU is a net importer of horse meat and these imports are problematic as NGOs investigations and EU audits revealed massive problems with animal welfare and food safety. Eurogroup For Animals recommends using the tools offered by the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to address and improve horse welfare in Canada. Eurogroup For Animals calls for EU and Canada to address horse welfare under CETA 7 May 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU Today, the European Commission holds its Trade Policy Day, in the presence of WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala. A good occasion to call on both the EU and the WTO to better address the impact of trade policy on animals. The EU must engage with WTO membership to address the impact of trade on animal welfare 26 April 2021
#Act4 AnimalsEU The International trade committee of the European Parliament (INTA) adopted two Opinions on the EU’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies, linking animal welfare to sustainable development. Eurogroup For Animals calls on the European Commission to take stock of these Opinions and effectively put animal welfare at the core of the future EU trade and food policy. INTA calls to address the impact of trade on unsustainable farming & on biodiversity loss 22 April 2021
