March 2024 Newsletter
Dear subscribers and supporters,
We’re writing today with a special announcement: our 2023 annual report is out now! This report includes a recap of our publications, media appearances, and our plans for the upcoming year.
As we reflect upon our third year, and look ahead to the next, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our clients, donors, subscribers, and friends for your continued interest and support. Our work would not be possible without you.
We look forward to keeping you updated in 2024, which will be a pivotal year for our organization, and we wish you much success, especially in your endeavors to create a better world for animals.
This newsletter’s edition includes news and updates in the following sections:
The Institute's News
A Tribute to Steven M. Wise and Frans de Waal
Animal Law News in the EU
Animal Law News in the Member States
International Animal Law News
Events
Publications
Career Advancement
THE INSTITUTE'S NEWS
A summary of the Institute’s Research Note on the treatment of wild-caught fish under EU law (authored by Pauline Koczorowski and Alice Di Concetto) was featured in a piece published in the December edition of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section Newsletter. (Our heartfelt thank you to Yolanda Eisenstein for making this happen!)
Alice Di Concetto contributed a book chapter on EU Animal Law in the book Nordic Animal Law: Welfare and Rights (Birgitta Walhberg and Visa Kurki, eds., Ethics Press, 2024).
Lastly, Alice had the honor of being appointed to the Advisory Board of the Aquatic Life Institute, an incredibly dynamic organization that seeks to advance the interests of aquatic animals.
Lastly, on March 14th, the Institute and the Jeremy Coller Foundation successfully co-hosted an event in Brussels on the topic of “Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food Systems Post-2024 EU Elections.” The event gathered more than 50 participants in the EU animal law and policy space, and facilitated a fruitful discussion about lessons learned in 2023, and future opportunities to achieve a more just food system in the EU.
Panel Discussion with Kelsey Beltz (The Good Lobby), Olga Kikou (CIWF EU), Siska Pottie (European Alliance for Plant-Based Food), and Jo Raven (FAIRR). Moderated by Lara Pappers (Coller Foundation).
March 14th, 2024 (Brussels, Belgium).
A TRIBUTE TO STEVEN M. WISE AND FRANS DE WAAL
At the Institute, we were saddened to hear about the passing of both Steven Wise and Frans de Waal, two important figures in the animal advocacy movement.
Steve M. Wise played a significant role in the development of animal law as an autonomous discipline, by teaching the first animal law class at Harvard Law School. Professor Wise’s advocacy work also paved the way to the recognition of animal personhood before US courts, via the Nonhuman Rights Project, an organization he founded. On top of being a world class lawyer, teacher, and scholar, Professor Wise was an incredibly generous human being. The Institute’s founder, Alice Di Concetto, had the honor of meeting Steve for the first time in 2014, while studying at NYU Law School, where he encouraged her to pursue a degree in animal law. You can read the Nonhuman Rights Project’s tribute to Steve Wise here.
Frans de Waal was a Dutch primatologist whose research contributed to further undermining human supremacy, including by showing primates’ ability to empathize. You can read Emory University’s tribute to Professor Frans de Waal here.
May the memories of Steve M. Wise and Frans de Waal be a blessing to those who knew them, and to everyone working in the animal advocacy movement.
EU ANIMAL LAW & POLICY UPDATES
Animal Law News
European Union
New Laws
Farmed Animals (Slaughter): On December 14th, the Commission amended Regulation 853/2004 on Hygiene Rules for Products of Animal Origin (Hygiene Regulation), authorizing on-farm slaughter for certain species (cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats).
Consumer Protection: On March 6th, Directive 2024/825 as Regards Empowering Consumers For The Green Transition Through Better Protection Against Unfair Practices and Through Better Information (Green Claims Directive) was published in the Official Journal of the EU. This Directive aims to restrict greenwashing practices by better regulating green claims. Member States must codify the Directive in their national law by March 27th, 2026.
Wild Animals (Marine Mammals): On March 11th, the European Commission issued a notice to the Member States setting binding limits on underwater noise pollution, under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Ruling
Wild Animals (Fish): In a ruling handed down on January 11th, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that quotas resulting in overfishing were legal.
Trade Agreement
EU – New Zealand: On February 28th, the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The agreement includes a chapter about stimulating cooperation on animal welfare between the two parties. The Agreement additionally provides a tariff quota on beef products but excludes meat produced from animals raised on feedlots. Read our analysis on this Trade Agreement here (in French).
Infringement Procedures
Wild Animals (Invasive Alien Species): The Commission is suing Ireland before the Court of Justice (INFR(2018)2319) for failing to adopt and notify penalties for invasive alien species under Regulation 1143/2014.
Wild Animals (Birds): The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Germany (INFR(2023)2179) for failing to implement the required bird protection measures under the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC).
Wild Animals (Habitat Protection): The European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Slovenia (INFR(2019)4058) for failing to comply with the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) in relation to the protection of grasslands, grassland birds, and the butterfly False Ringlet. Slovenia has two months to respond and take the necessary measures.
Public Consultations
Farmed Animals (Transport): The Commission is seeking feedback on the proposal for a new regulation revising Regulation 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals During Transport.
Deadline to submit feedback: April 12th, 2024.
Wild Animals (Sharks): In response to the European Citizens' Initiative "Stop Finning – Stop the Trade," the European Commission is seeking feedback on proposals for new rules related to the protection of sharks. Key measures include a ban on the import, export, landing, and sale of shark fins on the EU market. Deadline to submit feedback: June 4th, 2024.
Animal Health: The Commission issued a call for evidence as part of the evaluation of the EU Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429).
Deadline to submit feedback: April 3rd, 2024.
European Food Safety Agency: The Commission issued a call for evidence on the performance, organization, and content of the mandate of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). Among other missions, EFSA is responsible for providing scientific opinions on animal welfare issues.
Deadline to submit feedback: April 8th, 2024.
Call for Data from EFSA: EFSA is calling for evidence to support EFSA’s scientific research of the welfare of animals kept for fur production (racoon dogs, mink, foxes, and chinchillas).
Deadline to submit feedback: April 19th, 2024.
Other News
Farmed Animals (Transport): On December 7th, the European Commission published a proposal for a new Regulation on the Protection of Animals During Transport and Related Operations.
Companion Animals: On December 7th, the European Commission published a proposal for a new Regulation on the Welfare of Dogs and Cats and Their Traceability.
Farmed Animals (Fur): On December 7th, the European Commission issued a communication in response to the European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe," which petitioned the European Commission to ban the farming of fur animals. The Commission’s response mainly consisted of requesting a scientific opinion from EFSA on the welfare of animals raised for their fur.
Wild Animals (Wolves): On December 20th, the Commission proposed, by way of a Decision on the Position to be Taken by the EU under the Bern Convention, to change the protection status of wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected.” Such a proposal would lead to a revision of the Habitats Directive, which transposes the Bern Convention into EU law to allow the hunting of wolves.
Farmed Animals (Fish): On January 15th, the European Commission sent an official statement to Norwegian salmon producers Cermaq, Grieg Seafood, Bremnes, Lerøy, Mowi, and SalMar. By this statement, the European Commission informs these producers of the Commission’s preliminary view that the producers have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to distort competition in the market for spot sales of Norwegian-farmed Atlantic salmon in the EU.
Aquatic Animals: On January 17th, the Commision designated a European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals. The Reference Centre is composed of the University of Crete, the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The Reference Centre will provide national reference laboratories with guidance on methods of analysis, training courses, and technical assistance related to the welfare of aquatic animals.
Trade (Chile): On February 29th, the European Parliament voted in favor of an Interim EU-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Under this Agreement, the EU would provide additional market access in the form of increased duty-free quotas for poultry meat, pork, sheep meat, beef, and canned fish from Chile. The interim agreement still needs to be ratified by the Council of the EU.
Member States
Court Rulings
🇩🇰 Denmark – False Advertising (Greenwashing): In a case brought by the Danish Vegetarian Association against industrial pig producer Danish Crown, the Danish High Court ruled that Danish Crown’s use of the phrase “climate-controlled pig” on its labels in 2020 was deceptive in a way that violated Danish consumer law. Learn more.
🇮🇹 Italy – Defamation: The district court in Ravenna ruled that the organization Essere Animali had not committed defamation against the Parma Ham Consortium, following the release of an exposé by Essere Animali revealing the horrendous conditions in which pigs were treated on farms providing ham to the Consortium, which benefits from an official EU quality label (PDO/PGI). Learn more.
Other News
🇧🇪 Belgium – Wild Animals (Trophy Hunting): The Belgian legislature voted a bill prohibiting the importation of hunting trophies originating from endangered species of animals listed in the CITES Convention (Appendix A and certain specimens in Appendix B).
🇩🇪 Germany – Animal Welfare Act: Germany published a draft law revising German farm animal welfare legislation. Key measures include higher penalties for animal cruelty acts, prohibition on the tethering of animals, mandatory video surveillance in slaughterhouses, mandatory stunning of cephalopods and decapods, restrictions on the use of animals in circuses, and the creation of an administration dedicated to animal welfare issues.
Global Animal Law News
New Laws
🇨🇱 Chile – Animals in Science: On January 26th, Chile enacted a law prohibiting animal testing for cosmetics, as well as the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. The law will enter into force on January 27th, 2025. Learn more (in Spanish).
🇺🇸 USA (Washington State) – Farmed Animals (Octopi): The State of Washington passed a bill (H.B. 1153) banning octopus farming, making it the first octopus farming ban to be enacted in the USA.
🇰🇷 South Korea – Farmed Animals (Dogs): On January 7th, the South Korean Parliament adopted a bill banning the distribution and sale of food products made or processed with dog ingredients. Learn more.
Rulings
Council of Europe – Farmed Animals (Slaughter): On February 13th, the Court of Human Rights ruled that the laws prohibiting slaughter without stunning in the Belgian regions of Flanders and Wallonia did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights.
Events
Academic Conference
Symposium – Animal Welfare and Climate Change: Intersections and Parallels, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, March 29th, Chicago (USA).
Symposium – Environmental Law Spring Symposium, Animal Agriculture and Climate Change: The Really Big Cow in the Room, Lewis & Clark Law School, April 5th, Portland, OR (USA) and online.
Symposium – Animal Law Review Symposium, Taking CAFOs to Courts, Lewis & Clark Law School, April 6th 2024, Portland, OR (USA) and online.
Conference – UIA, Animal Law Commission, The Business of Animal Law: The Global Impact of Animals and the Law, July 19th – 20th, New York City (New York, USA).
Summer School – Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, Animal Thinkers: Celebrating the Pioneers of Ethical Sensitivity to Animals, August 5th – 8th, Oxford (UK), Merton College.
Conference – Helsinki Animal Law Conference, Welfare, Rights & Agency: Old and New Trends in Animal Law, August 13th – 14th, Helsinki (Finland).
Conference – Canadian Animal Law Conference, September 27th – 29th, Toronto (Canada).
Conference – US Animal Law Conference, October 18th – 20th, Portland, OR (USA).
NGOs
Summit – The Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit, May 16th – 19th, Washington DC (USA).
Conference – CARE Conference, September 12th – 15th, Warsaw (Poland) and online.
Publications
Law & Policy
European Commission, Illegal Trade of Cats and Dogs: EU Enforcement Action (2023).
European Food Safety Authority, Antimicrobial Consumption And Resistance In Bacteria From Humans and Food‐Producing Animals, EFSA Journal (2024).
Academic Publications
Eugénie Duval, Benjamin Lecorps, and Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk, Are Regulations Addressing Farm Animal Welfare Issues During Live Transportation Fit for Purpose? A Multi-Country Jurisdictional Check, Royal Society Open Science (2024).
Meganne Natali, A Loophole in Article VII of CITES: A Case Against Annex I Species Breeding, Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy (2023).
Alisa E. White et al., Wild Animal Welfare in Local Policies on Land Use and the Built Environment, Policy Brief, NYU Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law (March 2024).
NGOs
BEUC (The European Consumer Organization), Farm Animal Welfare: What Consumers Want (2024).
IUCN Netherlands, Earth League International (...), Unveiling the Criminal Networks Behind Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Netherlands and the EU (2024).
Calls for Contributions
The NYU Wild Animal Welfare Program is accepting expressions of interest to present at the NYU Wild Animal Welfare Summit, which will take place on June 21st – 22nd, 2024 at NYU (New York City, USA). Deadline to submit proposal: March 1st, 2024 (followed by rolling submissions).
The Canadian Animal Law Conference is accepting submissions to speak at the conference, which will take place on September 27th – 29th at the Toronto Metropolitan University. Deadline to submit proposals: March 22nd, 2024.
The Comparative Animal Law Postgraduate Workshop, co-organized by Lewis & Clark Law School’s Center for Animal Legal Studies, is calling for abstracts from postgraduate students (LLM, MSL, PhD candidates, and post-doctoral research fellows) who would like to present their research at the Workshop, which will take place online on June 20th – 21st, 2024.
Deadline to submit proposals: March 31st, 2024.
Career Advancement
AniLex Program, Animal Law and the European Union (registration closes on March 24th) and Animal Law and Administrative Control (registration closes on May 12th), Open University at Åbo Akademi University, online.
Diritto e Benessere Degli Animali, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Corso executive (in Italian), Milano (Italy), April 4th – June 9th 2024.
Summer School, Advancing Compassion: Exploring Animal Rights in Multispecies Societies, Radboud University, Radboud (Netherlands), July 1st – 5th.
Summer School, Animal Law: Theoretical and Practical Aspects of a Growing Field, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, July 15th – August 2nd (location to be determined).
Summer School, Animal Law, Rights and Representation, University of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium), August 19th – 23rd 2024. Students who have completed at least 2 years of law school are eligible to apply.
This newsletter was prepared by Alice Di Concetto and Anatole Poinsot.
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