NGOs call for clarity on timeline to deliver Kept Animals and Slaughter Regulations
4 October 2023
Press Release
The news that the European Commission will publish one of four promised proposals on animal welfare, while failing to provide a timeline for the rest, is unacceptable and leaves millions of animals unprotected and citizens’ voices widely ignored.
European Commission’s Executive Vice-President (EVP) Maroš Šefčovič, nominated to oversee the Green Deal, has confirmed that the European Commission intends to deliver the proposal on the protection of animals during transport by December 2023. Yet, he failed to provide clarity on the timeline for the other three regulations, namely Kept Animals, Slaughter and Labelling.
During yesterday’s hearing at the European Parliament, Šefčovič repeated that the animal welfare proposals remain a priority for the upcoming months, but when questioned by a number of MEPs from several groups, he commented that the work on the full legislation requires more assessment and dialogues, despite the fact that numerous consultations and dialogues have already taken place under the EU Platform on Animal Welfare.
Delivering only one of the four proposals will not meet the millions of citizens’ demands for better animal welfare. The latest ECIs End the Cage Age and Fur Free Europe, which collected 1.4 and 1.5 million signatures respectively, show that Europeans demand better protection for animals now. Following the ECI End the Cage Age, the EC committed to ban cages in animal farming as part of the Kept Animals Regulation to be adopted in Q3 2023.
Only updating the live transport rules will leave billions of animals at the mercy of outdated legislation, or without any welfare-related legislation. Numerous EFSA opinions have demonstrated the urgent need to update the existing rules.
While we welcome the publication of a proposal to revise the Transport Regulation, delivering only part of the expected legislation does not align to the wishes of the citizens, and to the scientific opinions that have highlighted the urgent need to update regulations impacting the welfare of kept animals. We also trust that the transport regulation will aim higher than what has transpired from the impact assessment finalised in July.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals
Eurogroup for Animals continues to call for the publication of the full proposals, as committed by the EC as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy.
Maroš Šefčovič promises to deliver on animal welfare, but fails to commit to timeline
3 October 2023
During today’s hearing at the European Parliament, European Commission’s Executive Vice-President (EVP) Maroš Šefčovič, nominated to oversee the Green Deal, repeated that the animal welfare proposals remain a priority for the upcoming months, yet failed to provide a timeline for their publication.
A number of MEPs, including Tilly Metz (Greens/Efa), Emma Weisner (Renew), Beatrice Covassi (S&D/PD) and Herbert Dorfmann (EPP), specifically questioned the EVP-designate on the animal welfare proposals, reiterating the importance of sticking to the promised timeline and delivering by the end of the year, to honour the demands of millions of European citizens.
We are pleased that animal welfare has been mentioned among the priorities for the coming months. Yet, we are disappointed that no concrete action or timeline has been provided, despite the many requests made by MEPs of various groups. We want to reiterate the importance for the EU to fulfil its commitments under the “End the Cage Age” ECI, which gathered more than 1.4 million signatures. Further delaying the publication of the proposals to the next term would be a democratic failure. As President von der Leyen recently said during her SOTEU address ”If it matters to Europeans it matters to Europe”, and we could not agree more, now though, we need to see it happen for the millions of Europeans who’ve been asking the European Commission to improve the lives of billions of animals
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals
The EC initially committed to deliver the proposals for a revised animal welfare legislation, as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy, by the end of this year. With the EC expected to finalise its working programme in the upcoming weeks, the timeline for publishing them within the current term is becoming increasingly tight. The EVP-designate mentioned several times the need for more assessments and dialogues to be carried out, even if the impact assessment on the legislation has been finalised and despite the numerous opportunities all stakeholders had to contribute over the past years.
During the hearing, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Šefčovič also mentioned that the EC is finalising the Transport Regulation proposal. Having a finally renewed text on transport would be much welcome, however, delivering only one of the four proposals won’t meet the millions of citizens’ demands for better animal welfare. Indeed, the latest European Citizens’ Initiatives End the Cage Age and Fur Free Europe which collected 1.4 and 1.5 million signatures respectively, show that Europeans demand better protection for animals now. Only updating the live transport rules would leave billions of animals at the mercy of outdated legislation.
The European Commission can still fulfil the promise it made in June 2021 to millions of citizens, and millions of animals, to go cage free by 2027, but now is the time to act.
Take action: ask President von der Leyen to deliver the animal welfare proposal
25 September 2023
The European Commission promised to publish a proposed revision of the EU’s animal welfare legislation this year. But we’re reaching the end of the year with no sign of this desperately needed update. The lives of billions of animals, and the wishes of millions of European citizens are being ignored.
On 13 September 2023, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen held her annual State of the Union Address (SOTEU), outlining what the EC has achieved and what it will still do before the end of its political term in 2024. The animal welfare legislation was not mentioned, nor was it included in the 2024 letter of intent, contrary to the one published for 2023.
Over the past several years, millions of citizens have asked for better animal welfare laws to be delivered:
1.4 million citizens supported the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) End the Cage Age
The overwhelming majority of respondents to the 2016 Eurobarometer on animal welfare voted in favour of stronger animal protection measures in several areas
The EC promised to deliver the proposals for a revision of the legislation by the end of 2023. After SOTEU, our fight for the delivery of the legislation during this term is far from over.
Over the coming weeks, the EC will finalise its work programme for 2024 in dialogue with the Council and Parliament. We must do everything we can to ensure this work goes ahead as planned, and is completed before the end of the current term.
If it matters to Europeans, it matters for Europe.
President Ursula von der Leyen, State of the Union Address
Why trade agreements should not stop progress for animals
26 September 2023
Opinion
Written by Reineke Hameleers
As millions of citizens are waiting for the European Commission to deliver the proposals to revise the outdated EU animal welfare legislation, the EU seems to prioritise trade negotiations that are increasingly in a deadlock.
The current EU animal welfare legislation is obsolete and urgently needs to be reviewed, to take into account the latest scientific findings. As shown by the Commission’s own fitness check and the recent EFSA opinions, the current legislation is not fit for purpose. This revision is also a question of democracy: through different European Citizens Initiatives, Eurobarometer and petitions, EU citizens have vastly demonstrated their support for higher animal welfare.
The European Commission committed to publish the proposals by autumn of this year, although we remain on tenterhooks for this to see the light. It is high time that EU consumption stops fuelling cruel practices anywhere in the world. Yet, for this objective to be achieved, the new legislation will have to apply to all products placed on the EU market, including imported ones. This is something that the European Parliament, as well as many Member States, have already supported.
Evidently, this is likely to create discussions between the EU and its main trading partners, at a time when the President of the European Commission has committed to conclude important trade negotiations by the end of the year, notably with Mercosur countries. Should that stop the European Commission? Hopefully, the EU will not let its trade agenda freeze the path toward sustainable food systems, but if there were temptations to do so, it is important to remember key facts at play.
First, the EU-Mercosur negotiations are unlikely to make any significant progress during the remaining political term of this Commission. The EU-Mercosur deal has been greatly criticised over the negative consequences it could have not only for animals, but also for the planet and human rights. Already in October 2021, the European Parliament committed not to vote for it “as it stands”. The European Commission has thus put forward an “additional instrument” to be attached to the agreement, but the counteroffer recently made by Mercosur countries cast a significant shadow on the future of the talks.
South American countries are asking, among others, to create a mechanism that would allow them to be compensated, or to re-discuss trade concessions, if they feel that these concessions have been annulled or suspended by a measure adopted at the EU level. This would mean that even if the EU were to adopt a new legislation completely justified under the rules of the World Trade Organisation, the EU would still have to compensate Mercosur countries by granting further trade preferences on relevant products. This puts a price tag on every legitimate progress the EU wants to make: for animals, for the planet, for the people. This is unacceptable.
It is often argued that having more animal welfare-related import requirements would translate into a negative impact for small farmers in third countries. Yet, our recent report says just the opposite: most of the animal products imported into the EU originate from developed or middle-income countries. Lower-income countries are already prevented from exporting to the EU due to the sanitary and phytosanitary rules that need to be respected. In addition, exporters in these countries are mostly big multinational companies, sometimes already committed to achieve progress in the field of animal welfare. The EU might simply accelerate the change, rather than force it.
The European Union has been a pioneer in the field of animal welfare. The European Commission’s promise for a Green Deal cannot be complete without better animal welfare legislation. President von der Leyen must stick to her promise to publish the proposals before the end of this term.
According to the most recent Eurobarometer on animal welfare, 93% of European citizens want imported animal products to respect the same animal welfare standards as those applied in the European Union (EU). EU citizens do not want their consumption to fuel inhumane and unsustainable models of production beyond the EU’s borders. This report describes, for each key species, the impact that imposing animal welfare import requirements could have on source countries. To do so, it looks at the share that the EU market represents for top source countries – from an amount and a value perspective – and compares animal welfare standards with those applied in the EU. As exporters are often large multinational companies, it also identifies the commitments these companies have already adopted in the field of animal welfare, often beyond the legislative requirements where they are based.
Tell your Partner, South Korea, you oppose the torture and consumption of dogs and cats.
The Korea Herald reported on 5/3/2023, “Merck, a leading science and technology company based in Germany, said Wednesday it plans to build a bioprocessing unit in Daejeon, South Korea. Under a three-way memorandum of understanding signed by the firm with Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the government of Daejeon, they will discuss detailed plans for building the international pharmaceutical company’s new bioprocessing unit that can produce raw materials for drugs.”
In South Korea, there are numerous dog farms, slaughterhouses, markets, and restaurants where the dogs, who have been tortured their entire lives, end up being slaughtered in the most inhumane ways, such as by electrocution, hanging, or beating, and then thrown into boiling water – sometimes while they are still alive. In many places, dogs are being killed in full view of other terrified, caged dogs, and this takes place in broad daylight.
Therefore, we are asking that Merck Life Science reconsider any affiliation with South Korea and that they cancel plans to build a bioprocessing unit in Daejeon.
Chuncheon arrested CARE activists working to shut down illegal dog slaughterhouses
While working to shut down multiple dog slaughterhouses in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) activists have been unjustly arrested by the Chuncheon Police. We have sent emails to Chuncheon’s Friendship city, Vejle, Denmark, and Gangwon province’s Sister State, Colorado, asking for their help in releasing the activists immediately and shutting down the massive illegal dog meat industry in Gangwon province.
📣 We still need a volunteer to translate our “Suggested Message” into Estonian for our campaign. Please contact me if you can help. 📧 KoreanDogs.org@gmail.com
I do not aim for this to be a politically biased site – in my view they are all liars and make false election promises which thereafter they often fail to keep.
For those of you who are non UK resident, we have here 2 main political parties – namely the Conservatives and Labour. The Conservatives (Tories) form the current government with a majority of MPs, and Labour is in opposition.
The Tories have been in power for 12 years,following the General Election in May 2010.
Many people now consider it is time for a change.
There will almost certainly be a General Election where citizens vote for a government in 2024.
Each party has an area associated with animal welfare – and here are the links:
After Brexit, we were promised legislation to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and further fattening. Despite personally being involved in a government consultation; at wich I personally presented over 50 A4 pages of evidence as to why live transport should be banned; the Tories have now pulled the plug and are not moving on with this – see last link for more.
CAWG says:
We have been disappointed by moves to drop the long-promised Consultation on animal welfare labelling, and the discontinuation of the Kept Animals Bill (which included an end to live exports for fattening and slaughter). While we remain supportive of the Government’s approach to deliver these measures through alternative legislative vehicles, we fear not all of these can become law before the next General Election.
Maybe not as disappointed as you will be at the next General Election !!
We now wait for Labour to move forward with the issue – animal welfare is a big vote winner – the problem is some political parties do not recognise this.
As I previously said, this site is not politically biased; I attempt to proide info and some links, as I have done here, and then individuals can further research as required.
Banksy is an English artist who’s true, real identity is unknown to most.
He is a British icon.
He produces amazing artworks, often on buildings, garages, anything anywhere type attitude; and these artworks ‘just appear’ anywhere overnight for people to enjoy.
Here in New York he does his bit for live animal transport; the ‘Sirens of the lambs’.
This is very typical Banksy:
Going, going, gone:
Behold Dismaland: Inside Banksy’s Disneyland-Inspired Theme Park | Mashable News
Banksy has been secretly assembling his own Disneyland-inspired creation in this West Country seaside town, and it’s not exactly the happiest place on Earth. Dismaland, which opens to the public Saturday and sits on the 2.5 acre site of the Tropicana lido, is the shadowy artist’s first “bemusement park,” and it’s packed full of subversive artworks.
I had this through the other day (9/8) from the Conservative Animal Welfare Group; the Conservatives currently being in government here in the UK.
When Boris was the Prime Minister; he appeared to be pushing forward more on animal welfare issues; probably because he was also being driven by wife Carrie; an activist in her own right.
Since Rishi ousted Boris and became PM himself, there has been no real movement on both animal welfare or environmental issues. See below.
The 52 signatories to the letter, dated July 28, include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace UK, the National Trust, RPSCA and RSPB. They say they represent 20 million people.
After referencing recent wildfires across the globe, and flash flooding in India, they write that the environment “remains a central concern for voters” and there is “no public mandate for a delay”.
The letter concludes: “We will not stand by whilst politicians use the environment as a political football.
Now the CAWF are banging out mails as follows below. Personally I have been fighting for a live export bn for 35 years. In my view, the Conservatives have never had, and currently do not have, any real idea of what a big vote winner both positive animal welfare and environmental action can be; see the poll results in the CAWF actions below. Yet still, right now, both issues appear to have been put on the back burner by the current Rishi government,
How long does tis go on ? – I personally predict that in the next General Election, which will probably be within the next 12 months, the Conservatives are due to be annihilated by other parties who claim to be better at animal and environmental issues. I don’t really have faith in any of them; they all make false promises to get votes and when elected into power on those issues, the British public are just given a kick in the teeth. I have over 60 years experience of being bullshitted to and being kicked in the teeth by past and current governments. The big problem is that in reality, there does not appear to be any UK political party which acts for animals, and will act for animals and the environment in the future. Now I read from the CAWF of their policy recommendations for the Conservative Party to adopt in their next Manifesto.
They say; We have been disappointed by moves to drop the long-promised Consultation on animal welfare labelling, and the discontinuation of the Kept Animals Bill (which included an end to live exports for fattening and slaughter). While we remain supportive of the Government’s approach to deliver these measures through alternative legislative vehicles, we fear not all of these can become law before the next General Election.
The Kept Animals Bill was already working its way through Parliament; this would have included a ban on the live export of animals for both slaughter and further fattening. Along with New Zealand, the UK would have been pivotal in halting live animal exports. Now. Rishi has done a U turn and scrapped the entire Bill.
I can do U turns as well; and steering well clear of Conservative Manifesto bullshit for the next General election will be at least one of the. They have betrayed so amny of us, the voting public; maybe soon it will be time for revenge !
From the CAWF:
Dear Friend,
We hope you are enjoying a relaxing summer. From briefing officials at 10 Downing Street, to launching our new report on perceptions of farm animal welfare, it’s certainly been a busy few months since our last update in April.
With a General Election now on the horizon, CAWF launched its 2024 Manifesto ‘Leading the Way for Animals’ in July which set out key policy recommendations for the Conservative Party to adopt in their next Manifesto. This coincided with some brand new polling we commissioned through Opinium, which showed two thirds of people (64%) would feel more positively about a political party if they included a strong commitment to animal protection.
Last month we also launched a new report ‘Farm Animal Welfare in the UK: What Does the British Public Want?’ which reveals the significant gap between what the British public demands as citizens and consumers, and the realities of what they receive via standard UK farming industry methods of production and practices.
Meanwhile last week our Co-Founder Chris Platt delivered a speech at the 2023 Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit in Los Angeles, United States. We were delighted with this opportunity to expand our international presence and advise other countries on building genuine, Conservative animal welfare advocacy.
Of course, all of this has taken place against the backdrop of major legislative changes on animal welfare. We have been disappointed by moves to drop the long-promised Consultation on animal welfare labelling, and the discontinuation of the Kept Animals Bill (which included an end to live exports for fattening and slaughter). While we remain supportive of the Government’s approach to deliver these measures through alternative legislative vehicles, we fear not all of these can become law before the next General Election.We are calling for a specific Government-led Bill on live exports, to ensure this vital policy and key Manifesto commitment for farmed animals is honoured.
We are also urging our supporters to ask their local MP to write to the Prime Minister and ensure time is set aside for a Government Live Exports Bill.
Read on for more information about all of this and much more. We hope you have a restful summer, and look forward to continuing to keep you up to date with our latest work.
Thank you for your support and best wishes,
Chris and Lorraine Platt Co-Founders
Finally, on a lighter cringe note, I guess he should have should have stuck to guitar
At least he got a clap. How do they all sit there with such straight faces ? – I would be howling with laughter !
World Animals Voice 