About: animal welfare
EU farmers: Prevention is better than cure for sustainable livestock
Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to animal diseases and creation of sustainable livestock. Vaccination may play a role in reducing the need for antibiotics, but it needs to be accompanied by other "tools", like education and training, farmer representatives and EU politicians have told EURACTIV.
Muslim animal slaughter must occur in approved abattoirs: EU court
The EU's top court ruled Tuesday (29 May) that animal slaughter without stunning can only occur in approved abattoirs, saying a ban on temporary slaughter houses does not violate Muslim religious freedom.
Expert: Animal health innovations will benefit both farming and society
An innovation-driven approach – ranging from vaccination to other health management solutions and appropriate biosecurity measures – will ensure more sustainable future livestock farming and protection of public health, as animal diseases do not recognise borders, Roxane Feller told EURACTIV.com.
Putting an end to cosmetics testing on animals, definitively
The EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics was a huge step forward but a global ban is the only guarantee that no animal will have to suffer or die for the sake of a shampoo or lipstick ever again, writes Kerry Postlewhite.
Why the tide is turning on fur farming in Europe
As ethical and animal welfare concerns grow, fur farming bans are spreading across Europe. The tide is turning and this is the time to show why the fur industry belongs in the past, write Joh Vinding and Reineke Hameleers.
New organic rules and animal welfare: Meeting social expectations or not?
The EU organic logo brings certain guarantees about high standards of animal welfare, and EU institutions ought to show strong commitment to address weaknesses in regards to animal welfare rules, writes Olga Kikou.
Are we crying wolf? A European tale of farmers vs. nature
Wolves have made a comeback in Europe, and politicians struggle to find the balance between nature and farmers. But some cry wolf.
Time to move fish welfare from principle to practice
The unseen life of farmed fish has given them low visibility in civil society, in policy circles, and in the animal welfare movement, despite scientific consensus that fish are sentient, and suffer pain, fear, and stress. Now it is time to act, writes Douglas Waley.
Commission wants ‘real progress’ on live animal transport but no law review plans
EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis wants to see “real progress” in the proper implementation of animal transport rules, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com. But the EU executive claims the current legislation is comprehensive and does not plan to review it.
Europe braces for CETA, attacks its legality in top EU court
Two weeks before the EU-Canada trade agreement enters into force, France evaluates its environmental and health impacts and Belgium challenges the agreement in the European Court of Justice. EURACTIV France reports.
Farming innovation is staple for Europe’s food security
As the United Nations celebrate World Milk Day, Ramiro Cabral highlights a seemingly impossible challenge: producing more food in a manner that uses less land, water, feed and energy, all the while ensuring animal welfare.OpinionPromoted content
The animal welfare platform will strengthen the public debate
Many European associations and NGOs are currently waiting to see if they have obtained a seat on the European Commission’s upcoming European Animal Welfare Platform, writes Mette Lykke Nielsen, CEO of Fur Europe.
Rabbit farming gets EU lawmakers hopping mad
The European Parliament on Tuesday (14 March) urged Brussels to help improve the lives of 340 million rabbits raised for food in Europe every year, mainly in cramped cages.
EU remains idle on curbing imports of ‘blood farm’ hormones
The European Commission has remained silent over a cruel but perfectly legal practice, common in South America, of rearing pregnant horses for their blood in order to harvest a hormone that is used in veterinary products imported to Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Organic farmers call for sustainability-driven CAP payments
The EU Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM EU) yesterday (19 January) sent a letter to EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan, calling for a “fundamentally new approach” to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Time for EU rabbit farming to enter the 21st century
Raising rabbits for food used to be a back yard enterprise. Not anymore, writes Olga Kikou, who urges the adoption of EU-wide standards to improve the living condition of farmed rabbits in Europe.
Animal welfare deserves better from investment policy
International finance institutions and member state export credit agencies continue to invest in projects outside the EU involving cruel farm animal confinement systems banned in the EU. Better joined-up thinking is needed with regard to investment policy and animal welfare, writes Joanna Swabe.
Avoiding milk losses with healthier cows
One in three dairy cows in Europe suffer from disease, causing more than five billion milk servings to be discarded annually, writes Ramiro Cabral.
Campaign against surgical castration of piglets censored
An advertising company and a French departmental prefect have taken down posters criticising the surgical castration of male piglets, in an effort to protect "public order". Our partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Animal health matters: Can EU legislation deliver?
Disease outbreaks such as Ebola and avian influenza serve as a stark reminder that human and animal health will always be inter-connected, writes Roxane Feller.
TTIP talks bogged down in food standards debate
Seemingly insurmountable differences in food standards are threatening to sink trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union. EURACTIV Spain reports.
France promises belated progress on animal welfare
The French Ministry for Agriculture has launched a four-year animal welfare strategy, a first for the country, which is far behind its European partners in this respect. EURACTIV France reports.
No end in sight for slaughter of newborn male chickens
Millions of newly-hatched chicks are killed every year in Germany, because the males are not worth anything to the poultry business. Even though experts have denounced it as a violation of animal welfare, Berlin has decided against banning the practice. EURACTIV Germany reports.