Eurogroup for Animals

47 heifers are stranded at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, where they have been left in appalling conditions and with little access to food and water since October 18. So far, nothing has been done to help them. The situation is very worrying. At the same border just a few weeks ago, 69 pregnant heifers faced the same scenario. Many of them died in the filthy trucks they were stuck in, while those that survived were eventually slaughtered without stunning: https://bit.ly/3YH3goG If the European Commission does not intervene to help the 47 heifers that are now stranded, they are not likely to survive. Signed by animal protection NGOs across Europe, our open letter calls for an immediate intervention to free these suffering animals - before it's too late. Read the open letter: https://bit.ly/3YuREUr #LiveAnimalTransport #BanLiveExports

Yet another transport tragedy: last week, 69 pregnant cows suffered a terrible death after being stranded at the border between Bulgaria and Turkey for over four weeks. The border is considered a ''land of no man'' as no one is ready to take responsibility for what happens to animals who get suck there. In this case, because the cows were coming from Brandebourg, which is considered an epidemic area for the bluetongue virus, Turkish authorities stopped the animals, and legal bureaucracy did not allow a return to the EU. Just days after this terrible event, another situation surfaced at the same border. This time, 47 cows are stranded without food and water. Animals have started to fall ill, and two have already died. The situation is beyond tragic. It is clear that the EU is not doing enough to protect these animals. It is imperative that the regulation for the protection of animals during transport is taken seriously and updated to avoid unnecessary suffering, starting with a ban on live exports.

EU Member States are still sending animals to war zones like Lebanon and Israel, despite the considerable danger it puts them in. So far, 107 shipments have arrived at Israel's largest port, Haifa port, this year, where animals are reportedly being exposed to rocket fire up to three times a day. The loud booms are terrifying for the animals, and regularly trigger air raid sirens as well. Adding to their considerable distress, they are more frequently subjected to the use of electric prods, as port workers and handlers try to move them in a hurry. After unloading, the animals are transported to a quarantine centre where they remain for eight days. These are also under daily fire, to the extent that people who live in the area have evacuated. Article 3 of Council Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during #transport says that “no person shall transport animals or cause animals to be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them”. With this in mind, the European Commission must stop the transport of animals to Israel immediately. Read the open letter: https://bit.ly/4eUzOBh #BanLiveExports #LiveAnimalTransport

Our Animals in Science team was proud to be invited to present the Flash report of the June multistakeholder roundtable at the 2nd European Commission's workshop on the #EU chemicals roadmap. Check out the report here: https://bit.ly/4gNWPHl A day with great participation (150 live, 400+ online!) and key discussions to drive forward the development of the roadmap to phase out #animaltesting. #chemicalsafety #europeanunion #nonanimalmethods #CSS

Is a transition to non-animal science possible? Justine Watkins, PhD Candidate at Utrecht University, is researching how to accelerate the transition to animal-free safety assessment. She explains how in the full video, available on our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/djKGAasW Like her, many scientists are working to develop new cruelty-free methods that are as - if not more - effective than those that use and exploit animals. This is the second video of our new ‘Lab of tomorrow’ series, in which we invite scientists to tell us about their work and discoveries in order to raise awareness of the feasibility and effectiveness of non-animal science. Following the success of the ECI ‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics’, signed by over 1.2 million European citizens, the European Commission has committed to creating a roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety. We hope to see concrete steps towards this transition in this political term. #animaltesting #animalfreescience #crueltyfree

On this #WorldKangarooDay, we have a message for the European Commission. Kangaroos are one of Australia's most iconic animals. These extraordinary creatures are a symbol of Australia's unique wildlife, but they are also under serious threat, especially from the #EU. Did you know that the EU is the largest importer of kangaroo products, such as meat and leather? However, a recent survey revealed that 83% of people across Italy, Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands believe the EU should ban kangaroo products to promote better animal welfare. Kangaroo hunting is a cruel practice that not only causes serious suffering but also threatens the survival of this iconic species. Together with LAV, World Animal Protection, GAIA and Kangaroos Alive, we are calling for an end to this brutality. Let's reflect on how we can protect kangaroos and take meaningful action to ensure their safety. Find out more: https://bit.ly/48jkDil

The European Commission has just published the answers of the candidate for European Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, to written questions. On 6 November, there will be a hearing in the European Parliament where the Commissioner-designate will answer questions on various issues related to his new role, including animal welfare. Some of the questions will be sent to the candidate in written form before the hearing. Other questions will be asked orally during the session. In his answers, candidate Várhelyi promised to work on “policies [that] leave no one behind, creating conditions for truly inclusive health and animal welfare systems catered fairly to the needs of people and animals”. While we welcome the commitment to modernise animal welfare legislation in line with the latest scientific evidence, the responses are not ambitious enough and leave out some important points, including: ⏰ A clear timeline for the review of the legislation, including the long-promised ban on cages 🐟 Species-specific legislation that takes into account currently forgotten species, such as aquatic animals, dairy cows and broilers 🦊 A ban on fur farming and imports 🐭 Plans for a transition to non-animal science 🐶 Actions to tackle the illegal pet trade 🦎 The introduction of an EU-wide positive list 🫸 Ensuring that animal welfare standards apply to imported products 🍽️ Plans to make healthy, sustainable diets more available, accessible and affordable for all More details here: https://bit.ly/3YvwmHn Now that ‘animal welfare’ has finally been added to the Commissioner's title, it is time to give this issue the importance and attention it deserves. Although we expected more from the candidate Commissioner, there is still hope to get answers to our questions. We call on MEPs to represent the demands of citizens and demand specific answers during the hearing. Stay tuned for more information on how you can help us in this process.

We are #hiring! We are looking for a Political Affairs Officer for Hungary to join our incredible team of animal advocates working to influence EU policies for better #animalwelfare! Could this be you? Check the job description and apply! Quick info: Start date: as soon as possible Part-time contract (50%) #remote in Hungary with frequent travels to #Brussels #animaljobs #animalprotectionjobs #jobsforgood https://lnkd.in/dRhm7yvz

In December 2023, the European Commission drafted a proposal on the welfare of dogs and cats which is set to introduce long overdue measures on traceability, breeding practices and imports. However, some key elements are still missing from the proposal that will ensure effective protection for companion animals across the European Union, especially when it comes to identification and registration, breeding and sales. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dacdUXVG

#Reptiles can easily be overlooked in animal protection efforts. On this #ReptileAwarenessDay, we want to draw attention to the suffering of reptiles in captivity or kept as pets, and emphasise the need for an EU-wide #PositiveList to protect them. #ExoticsMatter To find out more about #reptiles, download our case studies: Burmese python: https://bit.ly/3YtyeAs  Prairie rattlesnakes: https://bit.ly/409ldxb  Cameroon dwarf gecko: https://bit.ly/40b7UfQ  Reticulated python: https://bit.ly/3Yud8BW