The European Union has been an advocate of animal welfare for more than 40 years and is widely recognised as a global leader, with some of the world’s best animal welfare standards. EU rules have also positively influenced legislation in non-EU countries. They mainly concern farm animals (on the farm, during transport and at slaughter), but also wildlife, laboratory animals and pets. In December 2021, Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport (ANIT) wrapped up its work of 18 months, concluding that EU animal welfare rules are not always complied with in member states - and do not fully take into account animals’ different transport needs. The most obvious violations include a lack of headroom, water or food supply for transported animals, the shipping of animals unfit for transport and overcrowding. Vehicles that are inappropriate for transporting animals are being used, and transport sometimes take place under extreme temperature and extended journey times. To remedy the situation, the draft recommendations call on the EU Commission to update the current EU rules, to establish limits on journey time for all animal species and ages, ban the transport of very young animals below the age of 35 days, and bolster controls on live animal export. MEPs also advocate a transition to a more efficient and ethical system, that favours the transport of semen and embryos over breeding stock, and carcasses and meat over animals being moved for slaughter.

Animal welfare

The committee of inquiry ANIT on alleged contraventions and maladministration in animal transport will primarily investigate the alleged failure of the Commission and of member states to effectively enforce numerous EU rules related to animal transport within the EU and beyond its borders.

The committee should investigate alleged violations in the application of European Union law on the protection of animals during transport - and related operations within and outside the EU, including by air, road, rail and sea.

The constituent meeting will take place on Wednesday, 23 September 2020.

ANIT - Committee of inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport

EP Plenary session - Oral question - Promised revision of the EU animal welfare legislation and the animal welfare-related European citizens’ initiatives

Illustrutation showing the trade of shark and ray fins in the EU, including the import, export and transit of fins

Animal Welfare Intergroup meeting - The case for a fur free Europe

ANIT - Press conference on animal welfare during transport

ANIT Committee - Public hearing  on Alternatives to long-distance live animal transport and farmers' experience of the shift to alternatives

ANIT Committee meeting

AGRI-PETI joint Committee - Public hearing - European Citizens’ Initiative 'End the Cage Age'

AGRI-PETI joint Committee - Public hearing - European Citizensâ Initiative ' End the Cage Age '

44% of EU households have a pet animal. Trade in dogs and cats has grown considerably in recent years, with an annual value of EUR 1.3 billion. However, animal welfare standards for professional breeding, keeping and selling dogs and cats very much diverge between Member States. There is extensive evidence of sub-standard practices and abuse and illegal trade in dogs and cats has soared, with a growing online market accounting for 60% of EU sales. EU level legislation with the aim of regulating the trade while ensuring a high level of animal welfare has been proposed. This infoclip shows employees at the Malta Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, MSPCA, and clandestine iphone footage taken during rescue operations from illegal backyard breeding. The MSPCA rescues, shelters, rehabilitate, give medical care, educate and rehome animals in need. Animals are rescued from neglect, abuse and backyard breeding and helped to find a new home.

Infoclip: Welfare of cats and dogs

Over 1,5 million citizens supported the European Citizens' Initiative, 'Fur Free Europe’, which calls for an EU ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production. The organisers also seek to prohibit selling fur from these animals, as well as products containing this fur across the Union. This news item shows footage of the MEPs debate on this initiative against the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU.

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": extracts from the debate

MEPs debate the European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” to ban the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU. The initiative calls for an EU ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production. The organisers also seek to prohibit selling fur from these animals, as well as products containing this fur across the Union. The initiative “Fur Free Europe” collected 1,502,319 valid signatures from all EU countries. Closing statement by Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": closing statement by Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

MEPs debate the European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” to ban the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU. The initiative calls for an EU ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production. The organisers also seek to prohibit selling fur from these animals, as well as products containing this fur across the Union. The initiative “Fur Free Europe” collected 1,502,319 valid signatures from all EU countries.

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": MEPs debate

MEPs debate the European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” to ban the rearing and killing of animals exclusively for fur production in the EU. The initiative calls for an EU ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production. The organisers also seek to prohibit selling fur from these animals, as well as products containing this fur across the Union. The initiative “Fur Free Europe” collected 1,502,319 valid signatures from all EU countries. Opening statement by Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), author and Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe": opening statement by Michal WIEZIK (Renew, SK), author and Iliana IVANOVA, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

This news item shows extracts from the signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council. The six COD LEX texts are about consumer credits, ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport , on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products, on establishing the European defence industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act and on the labelling of organic pet food.

LEX signing ceremony: signature of six COD LEX texts by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

European citizens have repeatedly demanded an end to the harmful use of animals in cosmetics and other chemical tests, as well as an ambitious plan to bring all experiments on animals to an end. The Save cruelty free cosmetics European Citizens' Initiative closed on 31 August 2022 with 1,413,383 signatures collected in one year. This is the second ECI on this issue that has surpassed the one million signature mark, the first being Stop Vivisection in 2015. This infoclip shows cosmetics and cruelty free logos in a make-up store and a drugstore, close-ups of different types of cosmetics and a professional make-up artist at work.

Infoclip: Cruelty free cosmetics

MEPs from the EP Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and on Petitions (PETI) debate animal testing in cosmetics with the initiators of a citizen’s initiative to secure better animal welfare and environmental protection, in a public hearing. The European Citizens’ Initiative on “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics”, with nearly 1.5 million signature collected in one year, wants the EU to strengthen its animal testing ban

European Citizens’ Initiative - "Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing": extracts from the event and statements - ENVI, AGRI and PETI Committees

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