December 2024 Newsletter – A New EU Administration
Welcome to the December edition of the European Institute for Animal Law & Policy's newsletter!
Greetings to our readers and supporters in Europe and around the world,
As the year draws to a close, we’re sharing our final update before 2025. December has brought significant developments, including the European Parliament’s approval of the new College of Commissioners, who have now officially taken office.
Looking ahead, there is much to anticipate. The new Commission is set to release its Work Program in February, and we will provide in-depth analysis of all the key updates around animal welfare. Additionally, exciting developments are on the horizon at the Institute, with new publications and continued organizational growth in the works.
Thank you for your incredible support throughout this transformative year. We look forward to sharing more with you in 2025 and beyond.
In this edition of the newsletter:
Updates from the Institute
Navigating Change: The New EU Administration
Animal Law News
EU
Member States
International Law
Events
Job Postings
Publications
Updates from the Institute
News
Alice Di Concetto (Chief Legal Advisor) has been appointed to the French National Ethics Committee on Animals Used in Science (Comité National de Reflexion éthique sur l’expérimentation animale).
Earlier this month, Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) participated in the Reflection Platform of the newly designated European Union Reference Centre for the Welfare of Aquatic Animals (EURCAW-Aqua). EURCAW-Aqua providing scientific advice to the European Commission and the Member States on the welfare of fish, cephalopods, and decapods.
Events
On December 12th, Alice delivered a presentation at the French Association of Law & Economics Annual Conference at Paris 2 – Panthéon-Assas University in Paris, France.
Olga presented on EU farm animal law and policy at the Law School of the University of Komotini in Greece on December 6th.
Media Appearances
Olga was quoted in an article by Yle about how industrial farming lobbies have prevented cage-free reforms in EU law (in Finnish).
In a Brussels Times op-ed, Olga paid tribute to outgoing Commissioner Stella Kyriakides for her commitment to animal welfare.
Olga was quoted in a piece by Euractiv about the proposal for a new regulation on the transport of animals.
Publications
Alice’s review of Iyan Offor’s new book, Global Animal Law from the Margins: International Trade in Animals and Their Bodies (Routledge 2024) was published in the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy. To request a copy of this book review, please email us at contact@animallaweurope.org.
In Memoriam
We were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Professor Isabelle Pingel on December 11th. Isabelle Pingel was a Professor of Law at the Sorbonne Law School and a leading scholar in the field of EU law, with animal law being one of her many research topics. At the Institute, we are forever indebted to Professor Pingel for creating the first animal law course at the Sorbonne Law School, and for regularly including animal law topics in the annual conferences she and her students organized in the Sorbonne’s Agricultural Law program, which she directed. In addition to her scholarly contributions, Professor Pingel was a beloved professor and mentor to her students and colleagues. Though she will be sorely missed, we celebrate Professor Pingel’s life, work, and meaningful legacy.
Navigating Change: The New EU Administration
The European Parliament elected the new College of Commissioners on November 21st, by a majority of 370 votes (out of 720). The College of Commissioners serves as the equivalent of the EU government, with each Commissioner functioning similarly to ministers at national level.
The new College, which took office on December 1st, consists of 20 Commissioners and six Vice Presidents. However, the composition of the new European Commission appears more complex than the previous one, with an increase in the number of Vice Presidents, each of whom will assume office with unclear competencies. Read more about this newly confirmed College of Commissioners here.
The Commission’s Work Program for the Next Mandate
The European Commission is slated to publish its Work Program for the next mandate (2025 – 2029) on February 11th, and one week later, the Commission will present its Work Program pertaining to agriculture and food, which we already know will be called the “Vision for Agriculture and Food.” This policy document will likely be based on the Strategic Dialogue report published this past September. The Commission also announced the creation of a new advisory group, “the European Board on Agri-Food” (EBAF), which will assume the role of the Strategic Dialogue in advising the Commission on agriculture and food policy.
In anticipation of the publication of the Commission’s Work Program; Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Slovenia have “strongly called for the European Commission to put forward the remaining proposals for an ambitious revision and amendments of the EU’s animal welfare legislation as soon as possible and to include them already in the 2025 work program.”
Meanwhile, the Revision of the Transport Regulation Is (Slowly) Making its Way through the Parliament and the Council
In March of 2025, the European Parliament is slated to present its list of amendments to the Proposal for a new Regulation on the Protection of Animals During Transport. The amendments are then expected to be voted upon during a plenary session of the Parliament in the fall of 2025. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who sponsor the amendments are waiting for a new report on the transport of live animals by the European Parliament Research Services, due in April of 2025. It is, however, unfortunate that MEPs are supposedly waiting for yet another report, when the Commission, the Parliament, the European Food Safety Authority, and the Court of Auditors have each already produced a significant volume of scientific and policy literature on the topic.
The Hungarian government, which presides over the Council of the EU, presented a progress report to the Council of the EU in November. In it, Hungarian representatives primarily insisted on improving technical measures to improve the treatment of animals during transport, but they did not propose any ambitious modifications to reduce or end the long distance transport of live animals. Poland is set to preside over the Council of the EU as of January and consequently will be tasked with chairing negotiations between Member States on the Proposal.
Animal Law News
Animal Law News in the EU
🇪🇺 EU
📝 New Laws
Wild Animals (Cetaceans): The European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation 2024/3089 Amending Regulation 2019/1241 as Regards Measures to Reduce Incidental Catches of Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and Other Small Cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay , which is included in the territory of France. This Regulation will lead to the suspension of fishing activities from January 22nd until February 15th of 2025.
Trade (Sharks): The European Commission adopted 13 new tariff codes for sharks and their fins to better monitor sharks traded in the EU. These new tariff codes are also intended to strengthen the enforcement of EU wildlife trade regulations.
⚖️ Rulings
Farm Animals (Industrial Farming): In a ruling handed down on October 4th, the Court of Justice of the European Union clarified the definition of “industrial farming” in the context of organic animal agriculture rules (Regulation 2021/1165). The Court determined that the definition of industrial farming can include within its scope landless systems, and can also include other farming systems impacting animal welfare, the environment, and biodiversity. The Court furthermore decided that Member States are allowed to adopt a broad definition of industrial farming based on these criteria.
🔴 Infringement Procedures
Wild Animals (Bird): The European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Italy (INFR(2023)2187) for failing to comply with the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC). This is due to the Italian government allowing its regions to authorize hunting in protected areas and during periods when hunting is prohibited under the Birds Directive. Additionally, the Italian government has allowed hunters to use lead ammunition, which is prohibited under the REACH regulation (Regulation 1907/2006/EC).
Other News
Farm Animals (Fish): The European Commission provided an answer to the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC)’s Code of Good Practices on Fish Welfare.
Farm Animals and Food Transition: The European Economic and Social Committee has published two opinions, one entitled “How to Recalibrate the Green Deal That It Fits for Purpose” and another entitled “A Just Transition to Ensure a Sustainable Future for EU Agri-Food Systems.”
EU – Mercosur Trade Agreement: The European Commission has published a first version of the trade agreement that may be signed between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay).
Wild Animals (Wolves): On December 3rd, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention voted to reduce protections for wolves in Europe, enabling the EU and Member States to grant hunting permits for wolves.
Wild Animals (Wolves): Green Impact, Earth ODV, One Voice, LNDC Animal Protection, and Nagy tavak szövetség have filed a lawsuit against the European Commission before the Court of Justice of the EU, alleging that the Commission has failed to wait the regulatory 60-day period between the publication of the decision to downgrade the protection status of wolves in the official journal in October and the presentation of this decision before the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention in December.
All Animals: Members of the European Parliament have renewed the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, as well as the Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside. Members of the European Parliament have also decided to create a new Intergroup on “Sustainable Livestock.”
Member States
📝 New Laws
🇳🇱 Netherlands – Companion Animals (Extreme Breeding): The Dutch administration has adopted a rule prohibiting the sale of Scottish Fold and Sphynx cats. The rule will enter into force in 2026.
🇧🇪 Belgium (Flanders) – Zoos (Dolphins): The Belgian region of Flanders has enacted a ban on the breeding of dolphins in captivity and the importation of dolphins into Flanders, which will enter into force in 2037. Because Belgium’s two other regions have already prohibited the keeping of dolphins in captivity, this ban will effectively prohibit the practice in Belgium. Belgium is thus slated to become the fourth EU Member State to ban dolphinaria, after Croatia, Cyprus, and Slovenia.
⚖️ Rulings
🇧🇪 Belgium – Farm Animals (Fish): In a decision from this past November, the Council for Permit Dispute revoked the permit that the Belgian administration had granted to a Norwegian industrial salmon producer for the construction of a salmon farm.
Other News
🇩🇰 Denmark – Farm Animals (environmental legislation): Denmark is now one step closer to taxing methane emissions from animal agriculture.
🇫🇮 Finland – Food Transition: The Finnish administration has updated Finland’s official dietary guidelines. The new guidelines recommend reducing meat consumption and incorporating more vegetables into one’s diet.
🌏 International Law
📝 New Laws
🇮🇸 Iceland – Wild animals (Whales): Iceland has authorized whale hunting until 2029 by issuing hunting permits to whalers.
🇲🇽 Mexico – All Animals (Constitutional Law): The Mexican Constitution was amended on December 2nd to include the recognition of animals’ interests and to establish the State’s duty to “guarantee the protection, proper treatment, and care” of animals.
🇲🇽 Mexico (Oaxaca) – All Animals: The state of Oaxaca has enacted a general animal protection law. This law provides minimum protections for farmed animals, making Oaxaca the third state in Mexico to adopt comprehensive protections for these animals, following the states of Hidalgo and Colima.
Rulings
🇨🇴 Colombia – Companion Animals (mutilations): In a ruling handed down on November 7th, the Constitutional Court of Colombia has determined that plastic surgery on animals is illegal in light of Colombia’s national animal protection legislation.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Farm Animals (Chickens): On December 13th, the UK’s Court of Appeal rejected a case brought by the Humane League, which challenged the use of fast-growing chicken breeds in the broiler chicken industry. However, the Court of Appeal interpreted UK law (which uses the same wording as EU law) in a way that suggests that the use of fast-growing chickens by the industry is likely to conflict with UK animal welfare legislation.
Events
Academia
Conference – Defund Meat Conference, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, January 16th – 17th 2025, Heidelberg, Germany. Learn more.
Online Lecture – Eroding Boundaries Between Humans and Animals and Their Legal Implications by Prof. Margot Michel, University of Victoria, January 21st 2025, online. Learn more.
Webinar – Advancing One Health: The Latest Legal and Policy Developments, Sant’Anna Scuola Universitaria Superiore – Pisa, January 24th 2025, online. Learn more.
Webinar – Blue Crimes Webinar Series Part 2: Legality of Shark Finning, American Ban Association, February 4th 2025, online. Learn more.
Conference – Harms and Freedoms: Captivity, Natural Habitats, and Sanctuary, the Animal Legal Education Initiative (ALEI) at The George Washington University Law, April 3rd – 5th 2025, Washing DC (USA). Learn more.
Conference – International Wildlife Conference, April 8th – 9th 2025, Gulfport, Florida (USA). Learn more.
Conference – Animal Liberation, 1975 – 2025 and Beyond, Rennes University, June 4th – 5th 2025, Rennes (France). Learn more.
Conference – 5th Annual UK Animal Law Conference, Birmingham City University, June 4th – 5th 2025, Birmingham (UK). Learn more.
Conference – The Legal Distinction Between Persons and Things: Changing Perspectives, University of Antwerp, July 7th – 8th 2025, Antwerp (Belgium). Learn more.
NGOs
Summit – AVA Summit North America, May 15th–18th, Los Angeles (USA). Learn more.
Job Posting
Job Offer – The Animal Law Foundation (London, UK) is looking for a legal caseworker. Learn more.
Training – Animal Advocacy Career is accepting applications for its Impactful Policy Careers accelerator focusing on food transition in EU policy. Deadline to apply: January 5th 2025. Learn more.
Summer Program – The application for the Seventh Annual International Summer Institute In Animal Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is open. Deadline to apply: March 9th 2025. Learn more.
Publications
Law and Policy
European Commission, Rough Estimate of the Climate Change Mitigation Potential of the CAP Strategic Plans (EU-18) Over The 2023-2027 Period (2024).
European Court of Auditors, Special Report 19/2024 Organic Farming in the EU Gaps and Inconsistencies Hamper the Success of the Policy, Special Report, (2024).
European Court of Auditors, Special Report 20/2024 Common Agricultural Policy Plans Greener, but not Matching the EU’s Ambitions for the Climate and the Environment (2024).
European Court of Auditors, Special Report 23/2024: Food Labeling in the EU – Consumers Can Get Lost in the Maze of Labels (2024).
European Court of Auditors, Special Report 28/2024 Enforcing EU law – The Commission Has Improved Its Management of Infringement Cases But Closing Them Still Takes Too Long (2024).
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 (2024).
Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission, One Health Governance in the European Union (2024).
Wageningen University and Research, Key Dilemmas on Future Land Use for Agriculture, Forestry and Nature in the EU (2024).
Academia
Julien Bétaille, A Human's Liberty to Protect Wild Animals: Challenging Nature Rights Dogmas and Renewing of European Environmental Legal Culture, Environmental Law Network International Review (2024).
Régis Bismuth, “Animal Law Through a Utilitarian Lens,” in Research Handbook on Law and Utilitarianism (Guillaume Tusseau, ed.) (Edward Elgar, 2024).
Federico Dalpane and Maria Baideldinova, Animal Law Worldwide (Springer, 2024).
Roberto Talenti and Giulia Corsini, “The New Common Agricultural Policy Approach Towards the Livestock Sector and Food Waste. Lying at Which Point of the Sustainability Continuum?” in Ecological Sustainability and the Law: The European Green Deal and the New Frontiers of Sustainability, Edoardo Chiti, Andrea Giorgi (eds.) (2024).
Joyce Tischler and Suzannah Smith, A Comparative Analysis of Farmed Animal Protection Laws in the European Union and the United States, Global Journal of Animal Law (2024).
Hanna Schebesta and Kai Purnhagen, EU Food Law (OUP, 2024).
Global Journal of Animal Law, Special Issues: Comparative Animal Law (2024), Biodiversity and Animal Law (2024).
Calls for Contributions
The organizers of the conference “Animal Liberation, 1975 – 2025 and Beyond,” are calling for abstracts. Deadline to send abstracts: January 8th 2025. Learn more.
The UK Centre for Animal Law, and the Animals, Nature & Society Research Stream at Birmingham City University are calling for abstracts to participate in the 5th Annual UK Animal Law Conference, which will take place on June 4th – 5th at Birmingham City University in Birmingham, UK. Deadline to send abstracts: January 29th 2025. Learn more.
The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics is calling for abstracts on the topic of “The Ethics of Captivity” for the centre’s 2025 Annual Summer School, which will take place in Oxford, UK on August 4 - 7th. Deadline to send abstracts: February 3rd, 2025. Learn more.
The organizers of the 2025 Comparative Animal Law Postgraduate Workshop are calling for abstracts from current LLM, MSL, PhD candidates, and post-doctoral research fellows, from around the world working in the field of comparative animal law. Deadline to send abstracts: February 15th 2025. Learn more.
The University of Helsinki is calling for abstracts for the conference, “Redefining Agency - Legal and Philosophical Perspectives,” which will take place on August 18th – 20th 2025 at the University of Helsinki, Finland. Deadline to send abstracts: February 28th 2025. Learn more.