In June 2024, citizens from across 27 EU Member States will elect a new European Parliament. The 720 Members of the EU Parliament chosen by the electorate will be charged with the responsibility of representing EU citizens’ interests for the next five years and shaping the future of EU policy and legislation.
The protection of animals is an issue close to the hearts of millions of EU citizens. This is also reflected in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which explicitly recognises that animals are sentient beings and that the EU and Member States must pay full regard to their welfare requirements in their policymaking.
Humane Society International/Europe is calling on candidates for the European elections to become advocates for farmed, wild and laboratory animals to advance their welfare and improve their protection in the EU and beyond during the upcoming Tenth Parliamentary Term (2024-2029). Below are a few of our key priorities.
You can also download and read our Manifesto in full.
Improving farm animal welfare
The existing body of EU animal welfare legislation must be revised to fully reflect current scientific understandings of animal welfare and its scope expanded to cover all animals kept for economic purposes. It is imperative that this legislative revision includes the phasing-out of all caged confinement for farm animals, such as laying hens and pigs.
Making fur farming history
A full ban on the keeping, breeding and killing of animals for the sole purpose of fur production must be introduced. The cruel and unnecessary practice of fur farming must be relegated to the annals of history everywhere in Europe.
Restricting hunting trophy imports
EU Member States are currently only required to issue import permits for hunting trophies from species listed on Annex A and just twelve species on Annex B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. For as long as the import of hunting trophies remains legal, this import requirement must be extended to ALL species listed in Annex B to ensure that these hunting trophies are of legal and ‘sustainable’ origin.
Closing the loopholes in the EU wildlife trade Regulations
A loophole in EU legislation allows nationally protected wild animal species, trafficked into international trade flows, to be sold legally in Europe as exotic pets. The EU must commit to adopting supplementary legislation that prohibits the importation, transhipment, purchase, and sale of wildlife taken illegally in the country of harvest/origin.
Ensuring animal-free science
The EU chemicals legislation (REACH) must be revised to close loopholes that allow testing of cosmetic ingredients. Both REACH and the regulation for chemicals classification, labelling, and packaging (CLP) must be updated to maximise adoption non-animal methods for safety assessment and it is crucial that no new or expanded animal testing requirements are introduced via revisions or delegated acts. In research, where the largest number of animals are used in experiments, the EU should commit to a scientific and technological shift towards non-animal approaches.
Promoting sustainable food systems
EU policymaking, including any future Sustainable Food Systems Framework Law, should actively promote the transition to a more plant-based diet and a decrease in the production and consumption of animal products, as well as introducing measures to reduce the number of farmed animals in production and their stocking densities, to mitigate the environmental and climate impacts of intensive animal agriculture.
You can find detailed information about our priorities for the next term of the European Parliament in
our Manifesto.
Are you a candidate for the EU elections and willing to support our key priorities? Please, get in touch
with us: info@hsi-europe.org