Help us adopt Written Declaration 26 on the welfare of pets
13 August 2010
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals calls on all fellow MEPs to support Written Declaration 26 which aims to extend EU competences to include legislation to ensure the welfare of companion animals.
The Declaration was filed by Intergroup president Dan Schlyter, former Intergroup president Caroline Lucas and vice presidents Janusz Wojciechowski and Marit Paulsen.
We feel strongly that the EU must intervene to ensure the welfare of companion animals and to accomplish this we need a Union with the competence to legislate and ensure proper enforcement of legislation relating to pets.
The Declaration also calls on the Commission to take steps to educate the public about the responsibilities of pet ownership and ensure competent veterinary care is available across the EU.
MEPs have until 9 September to register their supporter. As things stand today, we still need the signature of at least 226 MEPs, so please make your vote count and encourage fellow MEPs to also register their support.
Click here to read the Written Declaration
Intergroup asks Commissioner Potocnik to act on outstanding CITES issues
28 July 2010
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals has written to EU Commissioner for Environment Potocnik (pictured right) in an attempt to address some of the issues to come out of the CITES Conference of Parties that took place in Doha in March. The Intergroup specifically, asks the Commissioner to take unilateral action to protect red and pink corals, spiny dogfish and porbeagles, and to ensure that future efforts to establish an EU common position ahead of such important international conference occur in a more timely and transparent manner. MEPs also expressed their discontent at the outcome of the conference, which saw policy-makers miss the opportunity to ensure protection from trade for blue fin tuna and porbeagles, to name a few. Intergroup members also put a number of specific suggestions forward for the revision of the implementing rules of the regulation on the protection of wild fauna and flora.
Click here to read the letter
Carl Schlyter MEP acclaimed as new Intergroup president
21 May 2010
During its 261st session the Intergroup elected by acclamation Carl Schlyter MEP as its new President and he takes over the role with immediate effect.
His predecessor, Caroline Lucas, resigned following her election to the UK Parliament as the country’s first green party MP, after leading the Intergroup since the start of the current parliamentary session.
“It is a great privilege to follow in the footsteps of Caroline and carry on the work she has so confidently promoted. I am extremely pleased to be able to take the leadership of one of the most active groups within the Parliament and look forward to working with my fellow MEPs to develop the Intergroup further,” said Mr Schlyter following his adoption.
“I hope that during my tenure as president we can work together to raise the issues surrounding the welfare and conservation of animals further. It is vital that we ensure that any future legislation presented by the Commission reflects the desires of Europe’s citizens and protects and defends the interests of all animals,” he concluded.
During the same meeting Jacqueline Foster MEP was also elected as the British vice-president of the Eurogroup. Foster has been a strong supporter of animal welfare and has been an active member of the Intergroup since becoming an MEP.
Commissioner Potocnik replies to Intergroup letter calling for support for higher protection for endangered species
15 April 2010
EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik has expressed his regret at the outcome of the recent Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in a letter sent to Intergroup president Caroline Lucas.
Caroline Lucas had written to the commissioner to inform him what was at stake during the two-week conference and to ask for the EU’s support for proposals seeking to enhance the protective measures for a number of endangered species.
Parties to CITES rejected proposals to ban the trade in blue fin tuna and to restrict the trade in several shark species, including hammerhead sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks, last month. Potocnik reconfirmed the reason behind the EU’s rejection of the proposal to ban the trade in polar bear parts is because they are not so much threatened by trade than they are by climate change, which has shrunk their habitat dramatically.
The commissioner also described the loss of the shark species votes as “regrettable” as they “are currently overharvested and internationally traded for their meat and fins. In addition they are not subject to international meaningful conservation and management measures”, thereby emphasising the grandeur of this lost opportunity. He went on to state that “halting the decline of the shark species is a priority for the EU”, in accordance with the 2009 Shark Action Plan. On a positive note, Potocnik was pleased with the outcome of the African elephant proposals of Tanzania and Zambia, which mean greater protection for the species in both countries, better protection for tree frogs and the rejection of a proposal to remove trade barriers for the sale of bobcats, as advised by the Intergroup.
Click here to read the letter
Archives
Intergroup welcomes Marit Paulsen's own-initiative report on animal welfare
17 March 2010
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals has welcomed the new own-initiative report by Marit Paulsen MEP which was adopted today in the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. The report calls for the development, implementation and enforcement of appropriate measures to further improve and ensure the welfare and protection of animals in the European Union.
In her report, Marit Paulsen, who is also the Intergroup’s Honorary Secretary, sends a strong message to the new College of Commissioners encouraging them to put animal welfare at the heart of their policy making. Highlights of the adopted report include MEPs call on the Commission to publish an updated Animal Welfare Action Plan without delay, a request to ensure better enforcement of the EU pigs’ directive and live animal transport and the request that the deadline for the entry into force of the ban on traditional cages for laying hens be maintained. The report also recognised the fact that animal welfare covers all animals and not just farm animals and supports the setting up of a central coordination body to provide training, education, best practices as well as information and communication to all food chain actors and citizens.
Commissioner Dalli rejects request to postpone 2012 battery cage ban
24 February 2010
The Intergroup is delighted that Commissioner Dalli, responsible for health and consumers, will not propose a delay on the ban on conventional battery cages for egg production as requested by Poland during this week’s Agriculture Council.
Member States must now ensure that all their producers comply with the new legislation and make sure that battery cages and the eggs they produce are removed from the market by 2012. Producers have a responsibility to make the necessary investments now and recognise that society at large and the European legislators do not want any delay. Animal welfare must come first and the millions of laying hens in Europe need our protection and support.
Intergroup warns against moves to postpone the 2012 battery cage ban
17 February 2010
Following its meeting in Strasbourg, the Intergroup has written to European Commissioners Dalli and Ciolos, as well as all 27 EU Agriculture Ministers, to register its concern at Poland’s recent proposal to postpone the implementation of the ban on conventional battery cages by five years, to 2017.
The Intergroup believes that there is no reason to offer such a compromise at this time. The 1999 legislation has provided a transition period of 12 and a half years, which has allowed ample time for producers to adapt and which also allows them to spread their capital investments for the removal of battery cages over a number of years.
The European Council must take its responsibilities seriously and reject this proposal. The welfare of laying hens is severely compromised in conventional cages and extending their life is totally unacceptable. Furthermore any extension will distort competition and penalise those producers who have already invested and improved the welfare of their hens.
Click here to read the letter
Calling on MEPs: Please support Written Declaration on horse transport
5 February 2010
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals would like to call on all MEPs who have not yet signed Written Declaration 54/2009 on the transportation of horses for slaughter in the European Union to express their support by putting their signature to the document. This Written Declaration emphasises the need for the rigorous enforcement of the EU’s regulation on the transport of live animals (EC/1/2005) and calls on the European Commission and EU Member States to look into the evidence presented by animal welfare organisation World Horse Welfare on the infringements seriously affecting the welfare of transported horses.
Every year 100,000 horses a transported in bad conditions, often without water and time to rest, suffering pain and injuries in stressful circumstances.
Time is running out for MEPs to express their support for this initiative as MEPs have only 6 more days left (until Thursday 11 February 2010) to sign the Declaration. As things stand today, 93 signatures are still needed to meet the target of 368 signatures. Please support this Written Declaration today. (Photo courtesy of World Horse Welfare)
For more information, you can contact hannahlynch@worldhorsewelfare.org or by telephone +44 (0)1953 497226.
Click here to view Written Declaration 54/2009
China pledges continued efforts to improve animal welfare
13 January 2010
The Intergroup has received a reply from China’s Mission to the European Union regarding recent efforts to draft a Chinese Animal Protection Law. In early Autum, Intergroup president Caroline Lucas wrote to the Chinese ambassador to the EU, Song Zhe, to congratulate his country for taking this significant step to aid the millions of animals that suffer from abuse and cruelty in China. Lucas also emphasised the calls of the Chinese people to ban ill treatment of animals, recalling the large-scale massacre of over 40,000 stray animals in Hangzhong earlier in the year (pictured). A recent poll of 63,000 Chinese found that no less than 89 per cent support the creation of anti-animal-cruelty legislation. Mr Song Zhe expressed his appreciation for the letter and explained that “governments at all levels have carried out extensive[ly] activities to promote [the] animal protection, raising and enhancing [the] public awareness and consciousness of animal protection.” He also writes that “the Chinese government will continue to improve the animal protection laws and regulations to provide legal guarantee for animal welfare.”
(Image courtesy of ActAsia)
Intergroup to discuss Animal Welfare Action Plan
15 December 2009
The Parliamentary Intergroup is to discuss the renewal of the EU’s Animal Welfare Action Plan on Wednesday. MEPs will be treated to several presentations outlining the current state of play on EU efforts to improve animal welfare, including a contribution by the Director of Eurogroup for Animals, Sonja Van Tichelen, who will be sharing the views and expectations of Europe’s animal welfare groups. Mrs Van Tichelen will highlight the reasons why the Action Plan is inherent to the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon, and in particular of its Article 13 on animal welfare, and will also point to the need for consistent EU policies and actions. She will also evaluate the first and current Animal Welfare Action Plan (2006-2010). Other esteemed speakers are Marit Paulsen MEP, who is to discuss her drafting of the European Parliament’s report on the Action Plan, and Andrea Gavinelli of DG SANCO’s Animal Welfare Unit, who will speak about the achievements of the last 5 years.
MEPs call on Commissioner Dimas to protect endangered species ahead of CITES conference in March
10 December 2009
The Intergroup for the Welfare and Conservation of Animals has written to EU Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas to ask him to take into consideration a number of welfare arguments during the drafting of the EU’s common position for the upcoming 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
MEPs affiliated with the Intergroup specifically wish to ensure
that species including Atlantic bluefin tuna, polar bears, elephants, tree frogs, bobcats and sharks are protected by this international legislation.
The MEPs, led by Intergroup president Caroline Lucas, also point out that it is the EU’s responsibility to unsure any trade with the Community is sustainable and does not threaten wild animal species. They call on the Commission to apply to precautionary principle whilst making any decisions in preparation for the CoP15 meeting due to take place in Doha (Qatar) from 13-25 March 2010.
Click here to read the letter
Save The Primates Media Launch and Reception 4 November
3 November 2009
On Wednesday 4 November 2009, Raül Romeva I Rueda MEP (Greens), Draciana Octavia Sarbu (S&D) and Catherine Bearder (ALDE) are hosting a Media Launch and Reception for fellow MEPs to highlight the issue of animal experimentation and the trade in primates used for testing and research. The events will showcase a new documentary on this topic and give an update on the progress and developments of the new (revised) Directive on animal experimentation. MEPs are invited to attend the event in Room PHS 4B001 of the European Parliament (Brussels) from 18:30 to 19:30.
For more information, please contact helderconstantino@ad-international.org.
MEPs and Swedish presidency hear Virtual Marchers call to "Make Animal Testing History"
21 October 2009
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals will provide the backdrop for the hand-over of an impressive petition aimed at illustrating the public’s desire to “make animal testing history” today. For over six months, tens of thousands of concerned Europeans have been cyber-marching alongside Brussels’ famous landmarks and EU institutions, calling on the EU to increase its protection of research animals. Today’s Intergroup meeting will discuss EU policy-makers’ ongoing negotiations to revise EU legislation on animal experimentation. MEPs will be joined by the Swedish State Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Rolf Eriksson, who will represent the Swedish presidency of the EU, and a delegation of the animal welfare organisations behind the first Virtual March campaign to end animal testing. The Swedish presidency aims to reach an agreement on the subject before the end of this year. The Intergroup also welcomes the Parliament’s rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs in the final phase of the process of the revision of Directive 86/609 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. MEPs and the Swedish presidency will be informed of the animal welfare repercussions to animal testing and how EU legislation can be improved so as to ensure EU rules remain the most progressive in the world. The Swedish presidency and the Parliament’s rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs will then be presented with an urgent call from over 65,000 concerned citizens who are urging the EU to do all it can to improve the plight of animals used in experiments.
Click here to read the Intergroup press release
Call to MEPs: support the Intergroup
15 October 2009
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals is calling on MEPs to express their support for the continuation of the Intergroup throughout this parliamentary session (2009-2014). With the start of every new Parliamentary Term, parliamentary intergroups need to be registered once more and the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals would like to continue its work of offering MEPs a place to discuss animal protection issues.
As one of the European Parliament’s longest running intergroups, it has been a catalyst for the discussion of animal protection topics for over a quarter of a century. It has been at the helm of parliamentary actions on seals, the transport of animals and the trapping of animals for fur. At every Strasbourg session, it invited MEPs to discuss topics of their interest and listen to experts on a wide range of issues.
MEPs who wish to express their support for the Intergroup are invited to contact Andreas Erler as soon as possible by e-mailing a.erler@eurogroupforanimals.org or calling +32 478 769 028.
Swedish presidency to receive petition on animal testing
7 October 2009
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals is pleased to announce the attendance of Mr Rolf Eriksson, Swedish Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture to the next Intergroup meeting in the European Parliament (Strasbourg) next week.
Mr Eriksson will be giving a presentation on the animal welfare priorities of the Swedish Presidency.
As one of Sweden three priorities for their stewardship of the Council of the EU, animal welfare continues to feature high on the EU agenda this year.
Mr Eriksson will also receive a petition on the topic of the revision of the Directive on the use of animals for scientific purposes on behalf of the Swedish presidency. The petition, which is the result of a remarkable Virtual March in an effort to “Make Animal Testing History”, gathers signatures of no less than 65,000 EU citizens concerned about research animals. Animal experimentation will thus be the main topic of discussion at the meeting, which will take place on Wednesday 21 October 2009, from 17:00 in Room Louise Weiss S2.1.
Work of the Intergroup recommences, Caroline Lucas appointed new President
16 September 2009
A select group of Members of the European Parliament gathered today for the new launch of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals. The Intergroup is now ready to take on the challenges of the new Parliament. The purpose of today’s meeting was to discuss actions to improve animal welfare in the European Union through their new mandate as representatives of the people of Europe. The Intergroup meeting also allowed us to formally appointed a new President and Vice Presidents. British Green MEP Caroline Lucas (photo) has been selected to head the new Intergroup as President during the first half of this parliamentary term. Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Lucas said: "I'm honoured to have been nominated as President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup. The Intergroup is well known as being one of the most effective, high profile cross-party groups in the European Parliament, and I am committed to doing everything possible to build on that well-earned reputation. With key challenges ahead, like the revision of the directive 86/609 on the protection of animals used for experiments, it's more vital than ever that the Animal Welfare Intergroup continues to champion animal protection across the EU." Today’s meeting included a debate with Isabelle Veissier from INRA (Institut National pour la Recherche Agronomique, France) about the WelfareQuality© Project, a research initiative funded by the European Commission to provide a scientifically-based scoring system for animal welfare standards. Click here to read the Intergroup press release.
The Intergroup welcomes new MEPs, presents meeting on welfare assessment
2 September 2009 
With the summer recess behind us, the newly elected Members of the European Parliament are returning to Brussels to take up their mandate and start the new plenary session with enthusiasm and vigour. The return of the Parliament naturally also means that the Intergroup shall soon resume its work in joining the forces of advocates for animal welfare in Europe’s most influential and democratic bastion of power. As the first acclaimed speaker to be invited by the Intergroup this parliamentary term, Mrs. Isabelle Veissier of the French Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), will be presenting the new MEPs with her views on the overall assessment of animal welfare and the work carried out by the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) sponsored WelfareQuality project. WelfareQuality set out to develop welfare indicators that will allow for the assessment of the level of welfare experienced by farm animals. The outcome of the project will be presented shortly by the project’s team at its Final Conference, co-hosted by the Swedish presidency of the EU in Uppsala from 8-9 October 2009. The Intergroup meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 September from 16:30 to 17:30, with English, French, German and Polish translations.
EU citizens elect new MEPs
11 June 2009
The European People’s Party will remain the largest political group in the European Parliament for the coming five years. This is one of the main conclusions of the European Parliament elections of last week. Over a period of four days, over 375 million EU citizens were given the chance to choose their national representatives in the EU Parliament. Sadly, voter turn-out has fallen to a new low, with only approximately 43% of eligible voters turning up at the polling stations. The number of MEPs elected remains at 736, with 18 additional MEPs kept on the reserve list of “virtual MEPs” who may take up their seat when the two remaining Member States, Ireland and the Czech Republic, have fully ratified the Lisbon Treaty. The overall results of the election were overshadowed by the success of the more extremist (right) parties, many of whom are yet to consolidate their position and translate this victory into the formation of alliances. The larger political groups, PES (Socialists) and ALDE (Liberals) were able to maintain their position, hovering around 22% and 11% of the votes, respectively. Other notable winners were the Greens, who managed to obtain 7.2% of the vote (1.7% more than in 2004).
The newly elected MEPs are expected to make their entrance into the Parliament for the inaugural session in Strasbourg on 14 July.
Click here to find out more
MEPs given Certificates for efforts for animal welfare
15 May 2009
As the end of this European Parliament’s mandate comes to a close, Eurogroup For Animals – the European network of animal welfare organisations – has awarded a selected number of MEPs a certificate for their efforts to improve animal welfare during the 2004-2009 session.
Eurogroup For Animals provides the secretariat for the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals and thus organises the monthly meetings where MEPs can discuss animal welfare related issues. The selected MEPs have over the past 5 years expressed their support in one way or another to the cause of animal welfare.
The certificate has over the years been recognised as a coveted award for MEPs to illustrate their efforts to improve the plight of animals to their countrymen and –women both in anticipation of the upcoming European Parliament elections and perhaps also as a testimony of their intentions for the next mandate.
Click here to view the list of MEPs who received a certificate
Parliament to vote on three crucial animal welfare dossiers
4 May 2009
With the end of this Parliament's mandate fast approaching, the full Parliament is set to vote on three important animal welfare issues this week: the revision of Directive 86/609 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the protection of animals at the time of killing and the much-anticipated proposed EU ban on trade in seal products. Animal welfare supporters are hoping the votes will drastically improve the protective measures aimed at maximising the welfare of farm animals, lab animals and seals.
The MEPs who attended the Intergroup meetings over the past five years were introduced to the demands for better legislation of animal welfare organisations and were shown the importance of efficient and ground-breaking legislation to enhance Europe's economic competitivity and leadership role as protector of animals.
MEPs are now expected to take the demands of a large majority of EU citizens to heart and vote to better protect lab animals and farm animals sent to abattoirs and to help bring an end to the trade in commercial seal products.
Intergroup urges better protection of big cats
16 April 2009
The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals has written to the Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas to urge him to address the issue of the rapid decline of wild tigers and other big cats native to Asia. The call follows the concern expressed by MEPs at the last Intergroup meeting.
The illegal trade in wildlife amounts to environmental crime and the traders involved in the international trade in products derived from protected animals are considered to take part in a serious form of transnational organised crime. With a view to better protecting big cats in Asia, the Intergroup has thus called on the European Commission to increase cooperation with Member States as well as international partners to ensure that all parties fully implement relevant Decisions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES). MEPs are particularly concerned that many parties to the CITES convention are not undertaking sufficient action to bring to an end the existence of so-called tiger farms.
Click here to read the letter
MEPs reject notion of cloning
for food
30
March 2009
An
overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament has today
voted against the authorisation of food products from cloned animals
and their offspring.
MEPs have made it clear that, instead of including rules on cloning
for food production in the EU's pending novel foods regulation, they
want a specific Commission proposal to prohibit cloning of animals for
food and the import of such products.
Dutch MEP and dossier
rapporteur for the Environment Committee, Kartika Liotard, is pleased
that so many MEPs voted to support her report (667 voted for and only
16 voted against): stating "Food from cloned animals should not
be put on the European tables. The cloning of animals causes too much
suffering."
MEPs also voted
to support Liotard's view that there should be a clear definition of
nanomaterials and distinct labelling for all novel food products, for
products containing nanomaterials and products from animals that were
given genetically modified feed.
Slaughter directive revision:
Intergroup to send letter
4
February 2009
The
president of the Intergroup will shortly send a letter to the European
Commission and the Council to call for a number of actions to be taken
within the framework of the revision of the slaughter Directive. Neil
Parish MEP, president of the Intergroup, will request that a clear timetable
for the phasing out of live shackling of poultry intended for slaughter
is prepared, that compulsory post-cut stunning is introduced in cases
of ritual killing and also that the Commission comes forward with a
legislative proposal for the slaughter of fish within the next two years.
These action points were decided at January's parliamentary Intergroup
meeting, where MEPs gathered to discuss the animal welfare aspects of
slaughter.
Click
here to read the letter
Disappointment over cloning
delay
21
January 2009
The
European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare & Conservation of
Animals has expressed its disappointment that the Commission still has
not proposed a ban on the cloning of animals for food. Commissioners
discussed cloning during a meeting in Strasbourg this week but decided
to wait as they claimed more scientific research is needed as well as
a debate with international trade partners.
European parliamentarians
voted in September 2008 with an overwhelming majority in favour of a
resolution initiated by the Intergroup to urge the Commission to ban
cloning of animals for food. The Intergroup is concerned about the effect
cloning has on animals involved as it causes them to suffer at each
stage of the process. The scientific evidence all clearly prove that
animals suffer as a result of cloning, so the Intergroup believes a
ban should be proposed now.
Call for ban on inhuman
slaughter methods
15
January 2009
The
Intergroup discussed yesterday new Commission proposals on the slaughter
of animals during its meeting in Strasbourg. The Intergroup is calling
for the phasing out of inhumane slaughter methods, such as the live-shackling
of poultry.
Intergroup welcomes cat
and dog fur ban
9
January 2009
A
comprehensive EU ban on the trade, import and export of cat and dog
fur products has this month come into force. This has been welcomed
by the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, which
played a key part in establishing the ban. Concerned MEPs raised the
alarm after finding out many manufacturers used pelts from cats and
dogs for clothing and toys without labelling them as such. The Intergroup
debated the issue several times and supported a written declaration
by MEPs to call for a ban on cat and dog fur. The written declaration
led to the European Commission to propose a ban, which entered into
force on 1 January 2009.
Reception to celebrate
250th meeting
23
December 2008
A
special reception will be held to celebrate the 250th meeting of the
Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals on Wednesday 14
January 2009. The festive event will be held in Strasbourg to mark this
landmark date for one of the first-established and longest running intergroups.
Founded in 1983, the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals
has proved to be one of the most popular intergroups and contributed
to groundbreaking new legislation being introduced, such as the ban
on products from clubbed baby seals.
The Intergroup,
which includes MEPs from all political groups and all member states,
is proud of what been achieved as a result of the first 250 meetings,
and looking forward to future challenges.
MEPs who would like
to attend the reception are asked to contact Delphine Bourgeois by writing
to d.bourgeois@eurogroupforanimals.org or calling her on +32 (0)477
457 112.
MEPs to discuss seals
trade ban
12
December 2008
MEPs
will be discussing how to improve the proposed EU ban trade ban on seal
products during the next meeting of the Intergroup on the Welfare and
Conservation of Animals on Wednesday 17 December.
Rapporteur Diana
Wallis MEP (ALDE, UK) will talk about the latest state of play in the
Parliament. Rebecca Aldworth, director Humane Society International
in Canada, will discuss the necessity of closing the loopholes. And
Abigail Caudron, EU officer at IFAW, will outline the animal welfare
response. MEPs will also be shown ....
Commission urged to hurry
up with cloning decision
5 December
2008
The
European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare & Conservation of
Animals is callingon the Commission to announce a ban on the trade and
import of products from cloned animals and their offspring as soon as
possible. The Commission is currently considering a possible ban and
was expected to discuss it during a meeting of the College of Commissioners
on 3 December. Instead the discussion was postponed and
a decision is now not likely to ...
New rapporteur for seals
dossier
20
November 2008
Diana
Wallis (ALDE, UK) has been named as the rapporteur on the trade in seal
products dossier to the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
Initially the Agriculture Committee was lead by Véronique Mathieu
(EPP-ED).
The
change came after the IMCO Committee argued that the legal basis and
legislative approach of the seals dossier is identical to ...
Intergroup welcomes plans
to update animal experimentation directive
5 November 2008
The
European Parliament's Intergroup on the Welfare & Conservation of
Animals has welcomed the publication of Commission plans to revise the
current directive regulating animals used in tests and research. This
group of European parliamentarians who care about animal welfare approves
of many of the improvements contained in the draft, but warned that
much still needed to be done to improve it.
Neil Parish, president
of the Intergroup, said: "We are glad that the Commission has finally
released its plans to revise current legislation on animal testing as
it was long overdue. The current law has been left unchanged since 1986
and there has been much scientific research and many technological innovations
since then."
MEP calls on Commission
to take action on animal testing
29 October 2008
MEP Jill Evans (ASE/UK)
has urged the Commission to hurry up with the publication of new legislation
regarding animals used in tests and research. The Welsh MEP has written
to Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to say the existing law is
in urgent need of updating.
Ms Evans said: "Duplication
of experiments and scientific advances mean many tests on animals are
simply unnecessary. That's why we must have a revision of this twenty-year-old
law."
Dutch transport violations
doubled
16
October 2008
The
number of recorded violations during live animal transports in the Netherlands
has doubled. The amount of violations recorded during the first part
of this year is twice as high as for the same period last year. Gerda
Verburg, the Dutch agriculture minister, has attributed ...
