Hungary Bans Fur Farming Of Minks, Foxes And Ferrets Due To ‘Public Health Concerns’ Amid COIVD-19

The announcement follows a slew of COVID-19 outbreaks on mink fur farms across the globe

Hungary has announced a ban on mink fur farming due to ‘public health concerns of zoonotic diseases’.

The ban also includes the farming of foxes, polecats/ferrets, and coypu. However, it does not include chinchilla.

The news follows COVID-19 outbreaks on slew of mink fur farms across the globe. Reports now suggest the COVID-19 variant found on a Danish mink fur farm could spark a new coronavirus pandemic.

‘A good outcome for human health’

Dr. Joanna Swabe is the senior director of public affairs for Humane Society International/Europe.

In a statement sent to Plant Based News she ‘applaued’ the Hungarian government for enacting the ban.

Swabe said: “Although these species are not currently farmed for fur in the country… This ban is more than just symbol politics. There’s a very real and present danger that fur farmers from elsewhere in Europe may attempt to move their operations to Hungary.

“This is a precautionary measure that shuts the door to that happening. [It] is a good outcome for human health and animal welfare.”

‘Make fur farming history’

Moreover, Swabe points out the ban ‘fails’ to include chinchila, who ‘could also be susceptible to viruses’.

She added: “As long as the animal exploitation of fur farming is tolerated, the potential for reservoirs of animal to human pathogens will persist….

“HSI hopes that the Hungarian government will also consider strengthening its ban by shutting down the country’s chinchilla fur farms too, and make fur farming history in Hungary.”

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Watch the video here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-55034537

Elephant rescued from deep well in a 14-hour operation

https://emp.bbc.co.uk/emp/SMPj/2.36.6/iframe.html Elephant rescued from deep well in a 14-hour operationClose

A team of 50 people have helped rescue a male elephant from a deep well in Dharmapuri, southern India.

Local villagers dropped banana leaves down for the elephant to eat as the rescue dragged on through the night.

The bull was eventually brought to the surface upside down, as cranes and belts lifted it to safety.

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Dear visitors, followers, and readers,

A week ago, my cat Cordino had an operation, that’s why I have to leave the work on our blog aside.
In order for the wound to heal well, he has to wear a neck collar, and although he is very good-natured and cooperative, he definitely didn’t want that.

We have agreed to only wear the collar at night, and during the day it stays free and happy, but for me, this means that I have to take care of him all the time so that he does not lick the wound.

We both have to complete this task by Sunday, then Sunday is the 10th day after the operation and then the threads are extinguished by themselves and we are all redeemed.

I ask for your understanding.
Soon I’ll be fully active again on our blog.

My best regards to all

Venus

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EU: ‘A Web of Lies’ – Horsemeat Imports (Into EU) In Regular Breach Of Alleged EU Rules Some 8 Years After NGO’s Alerted the Issue. EU – Toss As Always ! – World Animals Voice

Horsemeat imports in regular breach of EU rules

25 November 2020

Today, the Animal Welfare Foundation, supported by other NGOs, released a new documentary underlining animal welfare abuses in the production of Argentinian horsemeat. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by our report, this is not an isolated case.

The documentary, entitled  “A Web of Lies”, reveals that eight years after the first investigation carried out by NGOs in Argentina, the severe abuses and neglect of horses destined for slaughter continue, despite claims that the situation has improved. The film also puts the spotlight on key shortcomings in ensuring the traceability of the horses. 

Similar issues can be witnessed in several countries providing horsemeat to the EU, like Australia, Uruguay and Canada. Consumption and trade of horsemeat in the EU has overall declined between 2000 and 2015; yet, since 2017, EU imports of horsemeat from foreign countries have started to grow again, especially from Argentina.

It is thus high time for the European Commission to address the concerns around these imports.

Eurogroup for Animals launches today a report presenting an overview on animal welfare and traceability-related issues encountered in key producing countries. The report puts forward the following recommendations in order to ensure better equine protection: 

• All imported equine meat must comply with EU animal welfare standards at slaughter (which are currently the only applicable animal welfare requirements for imported meat).
• All imported equine meat should also respectother animal welfare standards applied in EU horse meat production(e.g. related to transport, in assembly centres and in horse feedlots). This means trade agreements should contain provisions on conditional liberalisation of horse meat imports (e.g. liberalised access to the EU market would be contingent on meeting equivalent welfare standards).
• Suspension of imports from countries if EU audits demonstrate a lack of enforcement of the applicable provisions of the regulation on welfare at the time of killing and traceability requirements.
•  Allowing for the possibility of unannounced audits.

• Suspension of imports (e.g. from Mexico and Brazil) are not reversed unless the production meets the required EU animal welfare standards as confirmed by EU audits.

• Working to improve equine welfare outside the EU through cooperation on animal welfare with relevant partner countries (at present Argentina, Australia and Canada), using technical assistance where required.

• Greater traceability of horse meat products by introducing Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for fresh and frozen equine meat.

• Reduced consumption of equine meat and derived products (through member organisations reaching out to retailers and consumers).

Read “From stable to Fork” Report 

Regards Mark

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Choose health, not poison

23 November 2020

20,000,000 waterbirds dead. 400,000 tonnes of lead.
The poisoning continues despite legal obligation to phase out lead shot in wetlands 20 years ago, when the 2000 African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement deadline passed. This week MEPs have the opportunity to ban lead with a workable proposal that benefits people, animals & nature and help banning lead gunshots.

The health of European citizens, biodiversity and the environment is at stake as a result of the use of toxic lead gunshot. The Commission is seeking to repair this through a ban on the use of lead gunshot in wetlands.

A very small proportion of EU citizens release 1000s of tonnes of toxic lead gunshot into the environment year on year. This is despite excellent non-toxic alternative gunshot types being available which are comparably priced and in common usage in many Member States.

The price of the toxic pollution is currently being borne by:

One million waterbirds poisoned to death annually, millions more suffering;

People exposed to lead gunshot in their food – of particular importance to children and pregnant women due to impacts of lead on the developing brain;

Soils contaminated and then poisoned for future agricultural use.

Wetlands International, together with Conservation without Borders, Eurogroup for Animals, European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Migratory Birds for People and WWT urge you to end this old-fashioned polluting habit and support the proposal from the Commission to ban use of lead gunshot in wetlands as a significant step to a toxic-free future.

 Read more

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Leading Animal Protection groups join forces for animal testing bans

23 November 2020

Following calls from EU authorities for cosmetics ingredients to be tested on animals, Europe’s leading animal protection groups have sent a joint statement to MEPs urging them to uphold the groundbreaking cosmetics testing and marketing bans.

Even though the testing of cosmetics ingredients on animals is banned under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission (EC) argued that even ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics may still be tested on animals under the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) if there is a possibility of workforce exposure during the manufacturing process. For cosmetics ingredients also used in other types of products, tests on animals may, they say, be required regardless of any potential for workforce exposure.

It is imperative that the purpose of the Cosmetics Regulation – that cosmetics products are safely brought to market using only non-animal data – be met without compromising the bans. For ingredients marketed under the Cosmetics Regulation that have a history of safe use by consumers and of controlled handling on the factory floor, robust protection of both workers and consumers is already enabled through a variety of non-animal assessment methods and the careful application of exposure assessments. When regulators decide that a new ingredient cannot be brought safely to market without animal testing, its introduction should be delayed until additional non-animal test methods are available.

The recent administrative decisions are not the end of the road for the cosmetics testing and marketing bans. We maintain that new safety assessment data for cosmetics substances imported into, manufactured or sold within the EU may only rely on non-animal assessment methods. The wishes of citizens and legislators are clear: ECHA and the European Commission must be held accountable and compelled to uphold the terms of the EU cosmetics animal test and marketing bans as originally intended.

As animal protection organisations, we call for the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure that the following mandates are urgently carried out:

• The EU bans on animal testing for cosmetics and the marketing of ingredients tested on animals must be fully upheld and implemented as intended by the legislators. 

• EU test requirements – including requirements set out in REACH – must not undermine the bans but instead must apply a substance-tailored approach to ensure consumers, workers, and the environment are protected without further tests on animals. 

• The European Commission must devise a robust testing strategy for cosmetics ingredients using only available non-animal assessment strategies so that the implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability reflects the overwhelming support for strengthening – rather than weakening – the protection of animals in Europe. 

The joint statement and list of signatories can be seen here.

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