Animal Law News
Norway Enacts Reporting of Animal Maltreatment
The Norwegian Parliament has adopted a new Animal Welfare Act that took effect on Jan. 1, 2010. New provisions include bans on sexual relations with animals, a prohibition against...more >>
Issue 5 of Welfare Pulse
Welfare Pulse is a publication of New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) which forms part of MAF's continued effort to raise awareness and share expert knowledge on animal welfare issues. New Zealand has internationally recognised expertise in animal...more >>
New Zealand’s kosher slaughter ban
New Zealand’s Jewish community is mounting a legal case against the New Zealand’s new law banning kosher slaughter. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Croatia have adopted a similar stance to New Zealand.
Animal Cruelty” Law Struck Down
The Supreme Court has thrown out on free speech grounds a 10-year old federal animal cruelty statute aimed at outlawing so-called crush videos - graphic depictions of intentional killing of small animals marketed to people who find the videos sexually arousing.
Catalonian parliament bans bullfighting from January 2012
The Catalonian parliament voted to ban bullfighting in an emotional session packed full of deputies, activists and observers.Sixty-eight deputies voted in favour of the ban; 55 were opposed.
Official Control and Food Hygiene Legislation in the European Union
Early EU hygiene legislation was developed as part of the controls of animal production and is often termed 'veterinary legislation'. Following the BSE crisis and the adoption of a more unified structure within the European Commission with the creation of DG Health and Consumer Protection, there...more >>
EU Solicits Views on Animal Welfare Policy
The European Commission has commissioned an evaluation of EU Policy on Animal Welfare (EUPAW) with reference to farm animals, experimental animals, pet animals and wild animals which are kept in captivity or submitted to a treatment which is controlled by humans.
Stakeholders have...more >>
Banning the use of antibiotics as growth enhancers in livestock (USA)
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee held a hearing Wednesday for a bill that seeks to ban the use of antibiotics as growth enhancers in livestock animals, an issue that has spurred a debate between livestock groups and public health officials. The proposals grew out of concerns...more >>
Poultry welfare will further improve
Keeping layers in cages and broilers in densely populated houses has become a common practice. Meanwhile, however, concern over bird welfare has also increased, based on scientific knowledge and public perception. Europe, in particular, has taken the lead to improve poultry welfare. This is...more >>
Animal Welfare = Trade Issue
Farmers should be prepared to have animal welfare become a more significant factor in accessing international markets.
"Animal welfare in trade is a growing area," says Dr. Ed Pajor, animal welfare professor at the University of Calgary. "It's definitely on the horizon and...more >>