EUROPEAN UNION ELECTION 2009

A MANIFESTO FOR EUROPE
by
www.advocatesforanimals.org

It's time to put better animal welfare on the agenda in Brussels

LOOKING forward to the European elections in June 2009, Advocates for Animals has published a Manifesto for Animal Welfare.
Candidates are being asked to support key recommendations including:


- Introduce compulsory welfare labeling for all animal-derived foodstuffs and other products sold to consumers within the EU.

- Ban commercial live animal transport in excess of eight hours.

- Review the Pigs Directive to provide robust protection for pigs including a ban on sow stalls, farrowing crates and mutilations.

- End the use of primates in experiments.

- Commit to bi-annual, thematic reviews of the EU Directive governing animal experiments, to archive the targeted, timetabled replacement of all animal experiments.

- Ban the import of wild-caught, exotic species intended to be used as pets.

- Ban the use of animals in circuses.

- Ban trade in all seal products.

The most recent survey published by the European Commission on "Attitudes of EU Citizens Towards Animal Welfare" showed that, on average, EU citizens gave the issue eight out of ten for importance.
Advocates for Animals believes that the European Parliament and the Commission are well aware of the growing importance of animal welfare to European voters - and will be taking the opportunity of the elections to press this message home.