6 December 2023

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.

Against the backdrop of the EU Agricultural Outlook conference, a major European Commission event on food and farming, some of Europe’s largest green NGOs and consumer associations joined forces to call out the European Commission on its failure to deliver both its promised proposal on the framework law for sustainable food systems (SFS) and its revision of the outdated animal welfare legislation. 

As a cornerstone of the EU Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy included a series of vital policies and initiatives to address the growing overlapping crises surrounding the state of our environment, people’s health, and the welfare of animals.

The action’s name “Broken Promises” hints at the State of the Union speech Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered last September. The speech’s motto was “Promises kept”, which is only partly true. While the Commission has shown partial commitment to delivering on some policies, two major promises remain glaringly absent: the framework law for sustainable food systems (SFS Law) and the revision of the animal welfare legislation.
 

Intensive unsustainable farming systems are the cause of immense animal suffering. Chickens, fish, pigs, and many more species are being treated as commodities and products in order to produce cheap and unhealthy meat and dairy as quickly as possible. Evidence shows that this industrial system harms everyone: animals, the planet and humans. As showcased by many ECIs and polls, citizens want change. And the good news is that change is perfectly possible if policymakers dare to take the right decisions and challenge the harmful status quo. Frontrunners in animal farming are leading the way. The time is now for the European Commission to make a firm commitment and make progress on the legislation.

Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

A food system which is making unhealthy diets the norm is not only causing ill health for consumers across Europe, it is also harming our planet. This same system has allowed food waste in Europe to pile up to record levels, at a time when more and more Europeans are going to bed hungry. The EU must do everything it can to make the sustainable food choice the easy, attractive, and affordable one. And the SFS law is the first step to do so.

Monique Goyens, Director General, European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)

Instead of promoting the health of people and planet, our food systems contribute to a huge burden of ill health and early death, it massively increases the risk of anti-microbial resistance, and contributes to climate change and environmental degradation. The EU must urgently recraft its food systems so that human and planetary health are protected. Making healthy sustainable food choices the easy, default option IS an option.

Dr Milka Sokolovic, Director General, European Public Health Alliance

A key pillar of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy, the SFS Law is a unique opportunity for this European Commission to pave the way for a future where everyone has access to healthy and sustainable food, farmers are supported, ecosystems are protected, and animal rearing is not defined by suffering. The Commission must fulfil its duty to people and planet and deliver this vital proposal – as well as its promised revision of EU animal welfare legislation – before the end of its mandate.

Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau

Regards Mark

20 November 2023

Animal welfare and environmental organisations came together on 4 November to spread awareness about the sentience of octopuses, and inhumane plans for the world’s first octopus farm.

Organised by PACMA and We The Free, the first annual International Save the Octopuses Fest was held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The event took place close to the planned site of Nueva Pescanova’s octopus factory farm. 

Scientific experts and activists took to the stage to speak about magnificent, intelligent, and complex octopuses. Among these experts were Dr. Elena Lara from Compassion in World Farming and Keri Tietge from Eurogroup for Animals. This was in stark contrast to the repeated mentions of unethical farming practices, industrial-level suffering, and environmental destruction.

As summarised in our case study released earlier this year, there are numerous concerns around Nueva Pescanova’s farm. Notably, there is currently no effective method for reducing the amount of pain these animals will feel when they are killed for human consumption.

During a panel discussion with the experts, there was a lot of frustration related to one issue; why is there a lack of transparency with the local community?

The Canary Islands government has not updated the public regarding the status of Nueva Pescanova’s octopus farm

Before construction of an industrial aquaculture facility begins, there are several permit processes that must be adhered to. These processes relate to both EU and national legislation and, in theory, allow for public participation at several different stages.

In the case of Nueva Pescanova’s farm, everything has been kept quiet.

In September 2023, it was revealed that Nueva Pescanova’s simplified environmental impact assessment was denied. This means the autonomous body in charge of conducting the environmental evaluations concluded that there could be significant threats to the environment. Nueva Pescanova now must undergo the more exhaustive environmental impact assessment process.

Scientists and campaigners around the globe have already warned about the significant environmental damages that could come from this farm, but what is alarming is the lack of publicly available information about this process. The Canary Islands government is legally obligated to share notifications about such developments, which has still not happened. 

This lack of transparency may be related to the suspected usage of EU public funding for the farm,  which has not been disclosed by national authorities in Spain.

The EU parliamentary elections are just around the corner. It is critical for citizens to participate in order to bring voice to aquatic animals, including octopuses.

We know that farming octopuses simply cannot be done in a humane manner.

It is also clear that this new industry goes against the EU’s Strategic Aquaculture Guidelines and would exacerbate a wide range of sustainability issues. Now is the opportune time to ensure that the EU acknowledges the overwhelming scientific evidence and protects these fascinating and unique animals. 

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Sounds as if they are doing all they can to stop NGO and the public from obtaining the truth – now the info is known we will have to see what happens next.

Regards Mark