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 '

ANIT Committee - Public hearing on Responsibilities of transport operators and other private stakeholders

ANIT Committee - Public hearing on ' Transport of Live Animals to Third Countries '

Constitutive meeting of 5 new Special Committees - Inquiry on animal transport (ANIT)

Press conference on ' EFSA & Agriculture Committee: Cooperation on Animal Welfare '

Visit to Veeweyde, Animal Protection Society

Plenary session - Protection of animals during transport within and outside the EU

Plenary session week 06 2018 - Manipulation of scientific research by multinationals in the wake of the emission tests on monkeys and humans by the German car industry

Cruelty Free International

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

MEPs debate a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for the end of trade in shark and ray fins in the EU. Closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning – Stop the trade": closing statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

MEPs debate a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for the end of trade in shark and ray fins in the EU.

European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning – Stop the trade": MEPs debate

Plenary debates a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for the end of trade in shark and ray fins in the EU. The European Citizens' Initiative “Stop Finning - Stop the Trade” gathered the support of over 1.1 million signatures with the minimum threshold reached in 15 member states. Extracts from the debate. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning – Stop the trade": extracts from the debate

MEPs debate a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) calling for the end of trade in shark and ray fins in the EU. Opening statements by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA,NL), ENVI and Asger CHRISTENSEN (Renew, DK), FISH and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning – Stop the trade": opening statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), and by Asger CHRISTENSEN (Renew, DK)

This infoclip illustrates the trade of shark and ray fins in the EU, including the import, export and transit of fins.

Infoclip: End of the trade of shark and ray fins in the EU

The PECH Committee (Committee on Fisheries), in association with the ENVI and PETI Committees holds a public hearing on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) "Stop Finning – Stop the Trade".The initiative was officially submitted to the European Commission in January after having gathered the support of over 1.1 million signatures with the minimum threshold reached in 15 Member States. It calls on the Commission to propose legal measures to end the trade of shark and ray fins in the EU, including the import, export and transit of fins, other than if naturally attached to the animal's body, notably by extending the scope of Regulation (EU) No 605/2013. Ambiance shots of the protest in front of the EP (27/03), statements by statement by Asger CHRISTENSEN (Renew, DK), Vice-Chair of PECH Committee, by Dr. Nils KLUGER, Spokesperson of STOP FINNING - STOP THE TRADE and by Stefanie BRENDL, Executive Director Shark Allies and extracts from the exchange of views

European Citizens’ Initiative - “Stop Finning – Stop the trade": statement by Asger CHRISTENSEN (Renew, DK), Vice-Chair of PECH , by Dr. Nils KLUGER, Spokesperson of Stop Finning - Stop the trade and by Stefanie BRENDL, Executive Director Sh

Closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Jérémy DECERLE (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, after the debate focusing on the implementation of EU legislation on the welfare of food-producing animals.

Implementation report on on-farm animal welfare: closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety by Jérémy DECERLE (Renew, FR), Rapporteur

The debate focuses on the implementation of EU legislation on the welfare of food-producing animals. The legislation needs to have clearer wording of the goals, and indicators allowing a more uniform transposition across Member States and providing for a more consistent monitoring and sanctioning.

Implementation report on on-farm animal welfare: MEPs debate

This report by Jeremy DECERLE, (Renew, FR), addresses the implementation of EU legislation on the welfare of food-producing animals. The legislation needs to have clearer wording of the goals, and indicators allowing a more uniform transposition across Member States and providing for a more consistent monitoring and sanctioning. His report also encompasses environmental elements, economical and social aspects. Opening statements by Jérémy DECERLE (Renew, FR), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

Implementation report on on-farm animal welfare: opening statements by Jérémy DECERLE (Renew, FR), Rapporteur and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

MEPs debate on possible strategies to minimize the impact of transport of animals. Closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

Joint debate on animal transport: closing statement Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health

On Thursday, MEPs from the ANIT Committee debated and adopted, with 557 votes to 55 and 78 abstentions, recommendations to update the current EU rules. They call on the Commission and EU countries to step up their efforts to respect animal welfare during transport, update EU rules and appoint an EU commissioner responsible for animal welfare.

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