European Commission Confirms that Cruel Battery Cages Must go in 2012

Eurogroup for Animals has welcomed today's statement by the European Commission that the European Directive banning the keeping of laying hens in battery cages for the production of eggs from 2012 will go ahead as planned.

This follows the adoption of a new report on battery cages by the Commission and is the only logical conclusion due to clear scientific evidence showing that hens suffer in battery cages and consumer rejection of this cruel production system.

New EU Treaty: a Positive Step for Citizens
and Animals

Today 13 December in Lisbon, EU heads of States and Governments will sign the new European Union Treaty. Eurogroup welcomes the integration into the Lisbon Treaty of the text of the Protocol on protection and welfare of animals, originally an annex to the Amsterdam Treaty. According to this article, the EU and its Member States should pay full regard to the requirements of animal welfare in formulating and implementing their policies, notably in the the areas of agriculture and research. Eurogroup greets this necessary step for better animal protection in Europe, as well as the other positive elements included in the new Treaty. They will make decision-making in the EU clearer and more transparent. Citizens concerns will be better echoed in the EU, with increased powers for the European and national parliaments, and the recognition of citizen’s petitions. Thus, the EU should better hear the increasing concerns of its citizens for animal protection.

A Eurogroup call to end Piglet Castration

A new Europe-wide survey shows that the majority of farmers is ignoring the suffering piglet castration causes and is even unwilling to use pain-relief because of the extra costs involved. The result of this survey were presented during the recently-held PIG-CAS stakeholder conference – an EU-funded project that aims to collect and evaluate information on different attitudes to this issue to support future EU policy – in which Eurogroup participated. Following those findings, Eurogroup called on European farmers and retailers to end this practice. If farmers keep on keeping their eyes closed on the reality on the suffering they inflict, it is then for retailers to take their responsibilities. They should follow the exemple of Dutch retailers, who have decided to stop selling meat from castrated pigs from January 2009.

Europe says no to cat and dog fur

Eurogroup greets the decision made by Member States in the Agriculture Council to adopt an EU-wide ban on the trade in cat and dog fur. The ban, which concerns the placing on the market, the import and the export of furs from the Felis silvestris and Canis lupus familiaris species, will apply from 31st December 2008. The EU as a whole joins countries such as Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden which already had such a ban. Eurogroup is delighted about this decision and urges the EU to now equip itself with similar bans on other types of products derived from animal suffering, notably a ban on the import of seal products.

Agricultural Policy: little scope to improve animal welfare in Commission Communication

The European Commission Communication on the CAP Health Check published today (20 Nov) misses the opportunity to make EU subsidies more animal welfare friendly. Eurogroup welcomes the proposal to increase the transfer of money from direct payments to rural development measures but regrets that its demands for more drastic increase and an obligation to use part of the funds to improve animal welfare have not been heard.

12.1 million lab animals used in the EU

The number of animals used in experiments in the EU increased from 10.7 million in 2002 to 12.1 million in 2005, according to the fifth statistical report of the European Commission published on 8 November. Part of the increase is due to the inclusion of the 10 new Member States in the report for the first time, although the numbers in EU-15 also increased by 3.5%. Eurogroup believes these statistics show the strong need for all Member States to focus more on the development and use of alternative methods and for the European Commission to speed up the revision of Directive 86/609 which regulates the use of animals in experiments.

Successful vote on Pesticides!

On 23 October, Members of the European Parliament voted at first reading on amendments to the Commission proposal on the revision of the Directive concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. They overwhelmingly supported key animal welfare amendments that bring progress in the areas of obligatory data sharing and inclusion of non-animal test methods.

Obligatory data sharing should avoid duplication of animal testing, through the setting up of a central database. Inclusion of non-animal test methods and ‘Intelligent/integrated’ testing strategies should ensure that the testing data requirements are defined with an obligation to minimise animal testing and ensure the application of non-animal test methods and intelligent testing strategies. The proposal will be sent to the Council which will have to adopt its first reading decision before the end of January.

New Publication Urges Retailers to Improve
Animal Welfare

As top European retailers met in Prague for the CIES (International Committee of Food Retail Chains) conference on 11 October, Eurogroup for Animals launched a major new publication to help retailers understand more about animal welfare and urge them to adopt more animal-friendly policies.

The new guide – called “Responsible Retailing, Putting Animal Welfare at the Heart of Your Food Products Supply Chain” – was distributed at the conference in a bid to show retailers that animal welfare can and should be improved as part of sustainability development in the supply chain.

Animal Cloning for Food Unacceptable for
Eurogroup

Eurogroup for Animals expressed its opposition to cloning of animals for food production at the occasion of the Biotechnology Forum Meeting on animal cloning for food production, held in Brussels in September. This event took place a few days before the European Group on Ethics (EGE) roundtable debate on the same subject. Eurogroup underlined the unacceptability of animal cloning for food production. It is indeed proved the cloning process is inefficient. In addition, both the animals used during the cloning process and the cloned animals endure unnecessary pain, suffering and distress.

EU Animal Health Strategy: missed
opportunity for Animal Welfare

Much more could have been achieved for animal welfare through the new animal health strategy launched on 19 September by the European Commission. The initial study, supporting the strategy, was explicit about the dangers of poor welfare and animal transport in particular, to animal health and the spread of diseases. However, the key strategic position of animal welfare in the first draft of the strategy has now been eroded, with most references to animal welfare being simply removed. Eurogroup regrets that preventive high animal welfare measures are not anymore part of the strategy.

Primate Resolution adopted!
Commission Action now needed

Eurogroup congratulates the Members of the European Parliament who supported the Written Declaration on the use of primates in scientific experiments. This comes after Eurogroup and its Members have put a lot of efforts into informing MEPs on the need to end primates testing. The Declaration has received much more than the required 393 signatures, showing the European Parliament's concerns about the issue match the ones of the European citizens. The Parliament Resolution will now be sent to the Commission for action. Eurogroup urges the Commission to include the measures proposed in the Resolution (a phase-out on the use of Great Apes and wild-caught non-human primates and a timetable to replace primate use with alternatives) in the revision of EU Directive 86/609/EEC on animal experimentation, which is due to be published any moment now.

Decisive Week for the Primates Declaration: 393 Signatures in Sight!

This European Parliament Plenary week will be decisive for the adoption of the Written Declaration on the use of Primates in Scientific Experiments. Now that the symbolic number of 300 signatures has been accomplished and passed, the required number of 393 signatures is more than ever reachable. Until the final deadline of 6 September, Eurogroup and some of its members will be in Strasbourg. They will put all their energy in urging the remaining Members of the European Parliament who have not yet signed to give their support to the declaration.

European Commission launches debate on Sustainable Consumption and Production

In the context of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, the Commission is preparing a Communication on how consumption and production can contribute to achieve sustainable development. An internet consultation (deadline 16 September) on this topic will gather ideas and input from stakeholders. Eurogroup has written to the Commission signalling the omission of animal welfare related topics in the Consultation although the EU strategy includes the aim of promoting high levels of animal welfare and health. In a report on "win-win opportunities", Eurogroup lists different ways in which high animal welfare standards can contribute to sustainable development targets.

World Congress on Alternatives: more can be done

From 21 to 25 August, Eurogroup for Animals participated in the Sixth World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, in Tokyo, Japan. This Congress aimed to provide a global overview on the present status of the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) in education, research and testing. It gathered around 800 people from animal welfare organisations, industry, government institutions and academia. During the Congress, Eurogroup presented the results of a survey on the availability of public funding for 3R alternatives, conducted in collaboration with ECOPA (the European Consensus Platform for 3R Alternatives) and Procter & Gamble. Eurogroup once again emphasized the need to do more in terms of availability of public funding for alternatives.

Recent case shows another example of animal mistreatment in transport

A recent inspection report has given yet another example of the common appalling treatment of animals during long-distance transport. The inspection has found evidences that pigs had been transported from the Netherlands to Spain without a rest stop under a temperature of 37°. The pigs, compressed in an over-crowded lorry, did not have access to water or food. 13 were found dead at the end of the journey. Eurogroup for Animals denounces this glaring case, which is just another proof that the new EU regulation on live animals transport is still largely ignored by transporters. Eurogroup for Animals calls on Member States to urgently ensure that such infringements to the EU live animal transport legislation be severely punished.

Primates Declaration Reaches 300 Signatures!

Eurogroup for Animals is delighted that the Written Declaration on the use of Primates in Scientific Experiments has now been signed by 300 Members of the European Parliament. This symbolic number means that the decisive target of 393 signatures, which represents the majority of the MEPs, is definitely in reach. Only 93 signatures are still needed before 6 September for the Declaration to become a formal position of the European Parliament. Eurogroup believes this would be a clear call on the Commission to use the current revision of Directive 86/609/EC to phase out the use of all primates in scientific experiments.

A new step towards a cat and dog fur ban

A decisive step has been taken towards establishing an EU ban on the trade in cat and dog fur. On June 19th, the European Parliament adopted a report approving a Regulation which prohibits the placing on the market and the import and export of cats and dogs furs and products containing this fur. A compromise was also reached between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. The ban will come into force on 31 December 2008. Eurogroup welcomes the fact that, following a lengthy debate, there are only minor exemptions from the ban and that the definition of cats and dogs includes feral animals. This ban will contribute to the relief of the 2 million cats and dogs worldwide that are killed for fur each year.

Mixed results at CITES CoP 14

A number of wild animal species which are currently traded will be more effectively protected as a result of decisions taken at the 14th CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP), which met in The Hague from 3 to 15 June.

The slow loris (a tropical primate heavily used for the pet trade), sawfishes and the Algerian slender-horned gazelle will now be listed under Appendix I of the Convention, which means that they can no longer be traded at all. The European eel is to be added to Appendix II, which means that they can only be traded under strict, monitored conditions. The CoP also took the decision to prohibit the rearing of tigers for their body parts.

Further good news is a nine-year moratorium on the trade of elephants or their body parts, including ivory, so as to allow populations to recover. There will, however, be a one off sale of registered ivory by four countries - South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe - which will be conducted under strict CITES supervision. Whilst this is a long way from the 20-year moratorium proposed by Kenya and Mali, it is nevertheless positive that a consensus was reached between African Range States which at least recognised the need for a period without trade.

Unfortunately, the CoP also took decisions detrimental to wildlife conservation, including the adoption of a new quota for trade in Ugandan leopard trophies, a doubling in Mozambique's quota for leopard trophies and by rejecting proposals to list two shark species currently threatened by over-fishing.

Agricultural Policy: little scope to improve animal welfare in Commission Communication

The European Commission Communication on the CAP Health Check published today (20 Nov) misses the opportunity to make EU subsidies more animal welfare friendly. Eurogroup welcomes the proposal to increase the transfer of money from direct payments to rural development measures but regrets that its demands for more drastic increase and an obligation to use part of the funds to improve animal welfare have not been heard.

12.1 million lab animals used in the EU

The number of animals used in experiments in the EU increased from 10.7 million in 2002 to 12.1 million in 2005, according to the fifth statistical report of the European Commission published on 8 November. Part of the increase is due to the inclusion of the 10 new Member States in the report for the first time, although the numbers in EU-15 also increased by 3.5%. Eurogroup believes these statistics show the strong need for all Member States to focus more on the development and use of alternative methods and for the European Commission to speed up the revision of Directive 86/609 which regulates the use of animals in experiments.

Animal welfare veal not labelled as veal

At the 11 June Agriculture Council meeting, EU Member States adopted a Regulation on traceability and labelling of meat of young bovines. In some languages, including English, the term ‘veal’ will be reserved for animals aged less than 8 months, excluding animals from 8 to 12 months reared under the higher welfare ‘rosé veal’ production system. Eurogroup regrets that this decision, taken under the pressure of white veal producers, will not help the consumer to buy animal welfare friendly veal. From a very early age, veal calves need fibrous food and additional iron in their food, and the almost exclusive milk diet of calves raised to produce 'white veal' makes them anaemic animals. Eurogroup’s contribution during the consultation on the definition of the term 'veal calf' has been totally ignored, as has been the EU obligation to pay full regard to animal welfare in its agricultural policy.

Whale hunting ban confirmed twice  at international level

Two successive attempts by pro-whaling nations to reopen commercial trade in whale products have failed recently. On 6 June, Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) rejected by 54 votes to 26 a proposal by Japan to review the population status of all 13 great whale species protected by CITES. A few days before, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) had adopted at its annual meeting a resolution strengthening the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling by 37 votes to 4. The IWC also passed a resolution condemning Japan's abuses of special permit whaling (the so-called "scientific whaling" program). This confirms the strong conservation majority at international level, against repeated attempts by countries such as Japan, Norway and Iceland to promote whale meat trade.

CITES CoP14 discusses trade in  endangered species

The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP14) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) is taking place in The Hague from 3 to 15 June. The aim of CITES is to regulate trade in wildlife. The Conference of the Parties will look at proposals to strengthen or weaken the protection of a number of wild animal species, such as elephants, gazelles, leopards, sharks… Together with the Species Survival Network of which it is a member, Eurogroup has been participating in consultation meetings on the EU position on the different proposals for discussion at the conference. Eurogroup supports SSN views on the proposals.

McDonald's phases out battery eggs

MacDonald's Belgium has announced that it will stop the use of battery eggs in all its salads. This will result in some 2 000 laying hens being spared very harsh conditions which prevent them from expressing their natural behaviour. Eurogroup would like to congratulate our Belgian Member Gaia, whose relentless campaign has led to this success. Gaia officially thanked MacDonald's on 11 May in one of its Belgian Restaurant. MacDonald's can now be added to the growing list of Belgian Retailers and Food Producers which have already phased out the use of battery cage eggs. Nevertheless, MacDonald's still has a little way to go, as the chain still uses battery eggs in its sauces.

EU Broiler Directive to provide only minimum protection

During the Agriculture Council of 7 May, EU Agriculture Ministers reached political agreement on the Broiler Directive. Unfortunately, the version which was agreed is very weak and will provide only minimum legal protection to meat chickens. The compromise text, which Member States will have to implement by 2010, introduces a maximum stocking density of 33 kg/m², with derogations allowing under certain conditions a maximum of 39 kg/m², and 42 kg/m² where prevailing conditions result in a low mortality rate. The Directive also sets rules concerning the animals' drinking facilities, feeding, litter, ventilation, heating, noise, light, cleanliness and surgical interventions. Eurogroup successfully fought to exclude from the text a labelling clause, which would have designated all chicken meat produced under the new regulations as being in line with EU animal welfare standards. Eurogroup is seriously critical of the Directive which it considers to be far too weak, serving only as an absolute legal minimum to be considerably strengthened in years to come.

Animals no longer part of the environment according to Commission Communication on the 6th Environment Action Programme

Eurogroup for Animals is deeply disappointed that the Commission has omitted any reference to the protection of animals in its communication on the mid-term review of the 6th Environment Action Programme published on 3rd May. The communication makes no mention of future activities or progress, on those objectives in the 6th Environment Action Programme which relate to animals, such as measures to minimise the need for animal testing, even though the revised Directive on animal experimentation is due to be published this year.

New Written Declaration on ending primate use in experiments

The European Parliament Declaration urges the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Member States to use the current revision of Directive 86/609/EC to end the use of apes and wild caught monkeys in scientific experiments. It also calls for the establishing of a timetable for replacing the use of all primates in scientific experiments with alternatives. The Declaration was presented on 23 April and the deadline for signature is 6 September 2007.

Communication more important than
labelling says Eurogroup

At a conference on animal welfare labelling organised by the German Presidency on 28 March 2007, Eurogroup stated that an effective communication strategy is needed to assist consumers as they make their choices. Labelling is only one element of it and should never be seen as a replacement of legal standards.

Commission to ask for an EFSA report on
seal hunting

On 15 February, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the Commission will soon make a legislative proposal on the seal trade after the release of an independent study by the European Food Safety Agency. Mr. Dimas also urged MEPs to lobby their member states to ban trade of seal products, as it would be then easier for the EC to take action on a European scale. Mr. Dimas was speaking at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament and received unanimous support from MEPs.

Belgium bans trade in seal products

On 25 January 2007 the Belgian Parliament voted to implement a national ban on the import of all seal products, making Belgium the first nation in the European Union to do so. Eurogroup would like to congratulate its Belgian member organisation GAIA for this success!

Eurogroup welcomes EU ban on wild birds imports

On 11 January 2007 the European Commission Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed on new health rules for the import of wild birds from 1st July 2007. The new rules allow only the import into the EU of birds bred in captivity in approved establishments from a selected number of countries.

EU citizens want better protection for lab animals

The results of a newly published EU consultation show wide public support for increased protection of laboratory animals. Over 80% of the people feel "more should be done" to improve the poor level of welfare of the animals and to inform the public on this issue.

Joint declaration on animal welfare

At a joint workshop organised in November 2006 by the CoE, the EU and the OIE, a joint declaration entitled “Animal Welfare in Europe: achievements and future prospects” was adopted, which commits to greater cooperation on all aspects of animal welfare aiming at bridging the gap between animal welfare legislation and its practical application.

Wild Birds

Eurogroup welcomes the report by EFSA which concludes that the welfare of birds captured in the wild and imported into the EU is very poor.

Spanish Zoos

Eurogroup is calling on the European Commission to act against the Spanish authorities for not implementing the EU zoo Directive.

A new look for Eurogroup

Eurogroup for Animals is the new name of Eurogroup for Animal Welfare.
Over the last 25 years, Eurogroup has been through many changes: more countries, more animal welfare issues.

Sustainable development

References to animal welfare have been included in the renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

Animal Welfare Action Plan

Eurogroup is delighted about overwhelming EP support for the Animal Welfare Action Plan, with 565 votes in favour and only 29 against.