Posted on April 5, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
2016 Stop tolerating systematic violations of international law when exporting livestock to third countries
Press release Eyes on Animals: the presidency of European Council is The Netherlands; it is time to act. Stop tolerating systematic violations of international law when exporting livestock to third countries.
A five years investigation conducted by Eyes on Animals (NL), Animal Welfare Foundation (Germany) and Tierschutzbund Zurich (Switzerland) at the EU/Turkey border has shown that as many as 70% of all inspected livestock trucks from EU countries to Turkey violate the European Regulation EC 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport. Eyes on Animals’ director Lesley Moffat: “Unfortunately based on our investigation we have to conclude that these violations are systematic, causing tremendous suffering of tens of thousands of animals. With the Netherlands profiling itself as a positive role model in agriculture, which was stated by secretary Van Dam in the European Parliament, The Netherlands needs to take the right action as EU President and stop this continuous animal abuse’.
During the time period of the investigation, from 2010 until 2015, the EU exported over 900.000 sheep, 850.000 cows and 5000 goats by truck on long-distance journeys to Turkey. In 2015 the export of live animals rose with 39% compared to 2014 (source: Eurostat). For 2016 the EU plans for a further increase. Together with two partner organisations, Eyes on Animals regularly inspects long-distance animal trucks passing the EU border into Turkey in Kapikule.
Lesley Moffat: “We see violations of animals being left on board for far longer than the maximum-allowed times, unrealistic journey times, false declarations of resting hours, animals suffering from extreme temperatures, a lack of water and food, overcrowded conditions on the trucks, lack of clean bedding, insufficient height and serious injuries due to poorly-designed equipment in the trucks, such as partitions with large gaps. More over many drivers are incapable and lack the skills needed on how to handle animals. These transport journeys are a true nightmare for the animals. Sick and wounded animals, animals giving birth and dying animals are deprived from care. We regularly see dead and trampled animals’.
The results of five years of investigations are captured in a report of over 1000 pages and an edited film, which will be presented to the EU-commission and its state members. 352 livestock trucks were inspected of which 247 transport companies from 13 different EU countries violated one of more laws of the EU Transport Regulation 1/2005. Moffat: ‘Not one of the 13 exporting EU-countries complied with the law. There is just no excuse for this’.
European Court of Justice: Comply with the law
Last year the European Court of Justice confirmed that the EU Transport Regulation on animal-protection is applicable during the whole time of travelling: from the place of departure to the final destination, even if situated outside the EU in a Third country. With the Netherlands being EU President, Eyes on Animals asks State Secretary of Agriculture Van Dam to commit to this law being respected. The declaration confirms that national authorities that approve the export of live animals need to apply and uphold these laws. ‘The Netherlands exports a relatively small number of live animals to Turkey compared to some of the other countries, however it is home to many livestock transport companies operating on this route, that pick up animals from other EU countries and bring them to Turkish slaughterhouses, feedlots of farms (cf report).
‘Economic interest more important than compliance with EU laws’
Eyes on Animals and its partner organisations accuse the EU-commission for tolerating the systematic violations of the law. The EU stimulates the international trade of live farm animals, and does very little to secure adequate infrastructure and resources to protect the welfare of animals during transport. Lesley Moffat: “It is unacceptable that animals depend on us non-profit organizations being present at the border for their protection. We do what we can, give first aid to suffering animals and send proof of violations to the responsible livestock transport companies and competent authorities, but it is the EU that should take on its responsibility in this. They are not only responsible for stimulating international trade of live animals on this route, but also responsible for the animals being given the care and protection that is stipulated within the law. ”
After years of negotiations, the EU finally succeeded to persuade Turkey to import animals from the EU in 2010. However, no provisions were made to take care of the EU animals during transport. At the border, there are no stables to unload, water or feed the animals. ‘The animals are stuck in the trucks for hours or days under extreme temperatures waiting because paperwork or health statements are often unclear. Turkey does not have an authority to uphold animal welfare legislation and the EU does not have the authority to check and fine those who violate these laws abroad. According to Moffat, the EU is well aware of this serious problem: ‘The EU lacks the political will to act; EU-members want to get rid of ‘surplus’ animals on the internal market to stabilize the price of livestock.
Ban this illegal trade in animals
The animal welfare organisations call for a ban on the long-distance transport of animals from the EU to Turkey. ‘Aside from the systematic violations of the EU transport regulation 1/2005, this trade is also in conflict with paragraph 13 of the Lisbon Treaty that obligates us humans to provide for the welfare needs of animals as ‘sentient beings”, says Moffat. According to Eyes on Animals and its partner organisations neither the EU-commission, the EU-members or the Turkish authorities, nor the im- and exporters of animals are willing to ensure that this international trade complies with the law. Moffat: this means this is an illegal trade and therefore has to be stopped”.
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Posted on April 5, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Firstly, we want to thank everyone who has supported, shared and signed the petition.
The reply to ourselves is from Mr. Tusk. As you can see from the copy of the letter which we include below, it is suggested that we contact the DG for Health and Food Safety of the EU, as this Commission includes animal welfare. As stated, the policy of live animals being transported outside of the EU falls within the competence of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. We were aware of this, and as you can see from our petition, his name has been included as 1 of 2 Commissioners who are included as recipients of the petition.
On the afternoon of 4/4/16, we made a phone call to the EU in Brussels, and we now have the specific name of the individual who works within this Commission and who is directly responsible for animal health and welfare. We have a contact e mail and were advised to e mail the video and petition links to the person directly, along with a covering letter. We were informed that we should have a reply to our submission within about 4 weeks.
We have immediately made contact with Lesley at Eyes on Animals in Amsterdam (NL), http://www.eyesonanimals.com/ and we are between us going to finalise a direct approach to presenting all the evidence (video, petition and covering letter) to the animal welfare person in the Commission.
As is clearly shown in the video, (EU) Regulation 1/2005 of the EU, which is supposed to give protection to animals during transport, is NOT being enforced for EU animals going to Turkey. This is our main concern and will be the real specific issue which we aim to throw at the EU Commission who are responsible.
Below is a copy of the letter. We will further update on progress in this campaign as it happens.
Regards Mark.
Please Note – The PETITION REMAINS OPEN FOR FURTHER SIGNATURES.
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Posted on April 1, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
1/4/16 – We have today had a letter from the EU informing us that our petition associated with EU live animal exports to Turkey has now been registered / entered onto the general register for petitions. It has also been forwarded to the Committee on Petitions, who will ‘decide if it comes within the EU fields of activity’. As the issue involves live EU animals being exported from the EU, we very much hope and trust that the petition WILL be considered as coming within the EU’s fields of activity.
The petition remains open, and we ask that everyone helps us by getting as many people to sign as they possibly can.
The associated video link, and the petition link are provided below. In addition, you can see a copy of the letter sent to us today from the EU, explaining the current situation.
Thanks for your help and support on this very important animal welfare issue.
Mark.
Past SAV post links associated with this issue:
All photographs – Eyes on Animals (NL).
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Posted on March 29, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Petition – Stop the illegal actions and killing of dogs in Serbia – please make sure you sign, then cosspost to the World !
Hi Mark
Thank you so much for posting news about crimes against defenceless dogs in Serbia.
In the last few months, things are getting worse. Local city hygiene services across county catch and kill stray animals. The infamous public communal service “Avenija MB” from the city Vrnjacka Banja is illegally catching dogs from 26 municipalities and has a large profit from animal suffering.
You’re right, the EU must be informed about barbaric methods Serbia authorities are using to reduce the number of homeless dogs, and put pressure on Serbia to respect their own laws.
I’ll share this post with my friends on Care2 and Pinterest.
It is a long way to go, but together we are building a more compassionate world for animals.
P.s. PLEASE SIGN >
Sincerely
D.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 27, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Direct campaign links with more – some of which is repeated below:
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS FROM THE WORLD JOINED FORCES TO STOP MASS KILLING OF STRAY DOGS IN SERBIA
They will aim to catch 1500 dogs out of which 1300 will be euthanised.
These dogs are not humanly euthanised.
In the past washing up liquid has been injected into dogs which then suffered for hours and died a slow agonizing death. No one is allowed access to this pound, so we can only imagine the horrors the dogs endure. No food, no water, dogs are eating each other…
Above – Dogs eat each other to survive due to lack of food;
Below – Other pictures from Pozega.
Things have not changed. If anything, things have got worse – this government institution is now openly saying that they will kill 90% of dogs.
Photos below – You can see one “aggressive” dog looking as they take away her babies not daring to come any closer. Yes, they took the puppies away.
The dogcatchers have been watched by Serbian activists: 69 dogs are in the pound, which is not equipped to even have 20 dogs safely. The dogcatchers will be out getting more.
THIS IS ILLEGAL UNDER THE SERBIAN ANIMAL WELFARE LAW.
PLEASE, ACT!
PETITION: MASSIVE DOG EUTHANASIA CAMPAIGN IS UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW! SIGN TO STOP IT!
JUSTICE FOR DOG POISONED AND LEFT TO DIE IN THE MIDDLEOF THE STREET BY CITY WORKERS!
LETTER TO COPY AND SEND
SAMPLE LETTER
Email addresses to send to: select the first and then copy the others and paste into ‘cc’.
miodrag.petrovic@minpolj.gov.rs , vetuprava@minpolj.gov.rs , zoran.ivanovic@minpolj.gov.rs , predsednikvlade@gov.rs , office@minpolj.gov.rs , office@seio.gov.rs , office@civilnodrustvo.gov.rs , nsrs@parlament.rs , zastitnik@zastitnik.rs
THE TITLE OF THE EMAIL SHOULD BE:
URGENT! Announced unlawful euthanasia by corrupt officials !
THANK YOU:
LETTER TO COPY AND SEND:
To whom it might concern,
We strongly condemn JKP “ Naš Dom” Pozega for their behavior in terms of treatment of abandoned animals. The Animal Welfare Act in Serbia clearly stipulates that abandoned animals cannot be killed except in exceptional circumstances, but must be housed and cared for in the shelters, yet we learned that JKP “ Naš Dom” is planning to kill 90% of the dogs that they catch in 2016.
On the news tonight (16.03.2016 ), on the TV station B92, JKP “ Naš Dom” admitted that in year 2015 out of 1350 captured dogs, 1280 were killed!
We are outraged and appalled by such disrespect of the current law by an institution JKP “ Naš Dom” which is governed by the state! This institution, clearly feels they’re above the law! We will be notifying all competent authorities in the EU and beyond and will be looking into taking measures to prevent future illegal slaughter of animals in Serbia.
We also must add that we are aware of current lynch on street dogs in Nis which is almost announced publicly as form of revenge for the attack carried out on an elderly woman by a pack of dogs. We are also aware of all the unlawful poisonings and killings of animals which are happening in Serbia because the institutions governed by the state assigned to deal with the problem are not following the laws and therefore are failing to deal with the problem as well as not dealing with irresponsible owners who abandon their animals and are part of the problem.
So far we have pointed out how to humanely solve the problem of abandoned animals and for us it is devastating that Serbia does not actually apply these measures. Measures, which are prescribed by the Law.
We are disgusted with the way the law in Serbia is circumvented and we will be taking all measures in our power to stop the planned killing of 1300 animals by JKP “ Naš Dom” in 2016.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME and Nationality.
——————————————————–
We’re waiting patiently for Serbia to do the right thing!
All the time it undertakes killing such as this which are ILLIGAL under Serbian animal welfare laws, the nation of Serbia should not be allowed to become an EU member state – it is currently a ‘Candidate Country’.
Under EU membership rules, Serbia must be seen to be enforcing the ‘rule of law’ – ie. enforcing strictly its own national legislations, in order to even be considered for membership.
As Serbian officials are corrupt and taking the money which should be for animals, and which instead is being syphoned off for their own interests and gain, Serbia is not a fit nation for EU membership.
For the past 10 years or more we have argued constantly that stray animal sterilisation is the only way to reduce stray animal numbers. Officials do not consider our requests as they want to be paid from central government for every dog which they still illegally kill This can be up to 500 Euros per dog – consider the average wage is around 300 Euros per month – so corruption pays in the eyes of these people !
So for corrupt officials, it is not in their interests to adopt a policy of animal sterilisation and gradual numbers reductions, as it is removing their ‘kill and take the money’ attitude which is keeping them very rich. Stray animals (see the puppies in the photo above) continue to be born, the continue to be rounded up, and the authorities and the people involved get a nice fat payment for every animal which they kill !
And the EU should consider letting this type of authority into the EU as a new member state !!!
It is good to see that Serbian citizens are now waking up to the current situation – they pay the taxes which puts money into the pockets of the authorities after all; and instead are taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the animal killings.
PLEASE, ACT IMMEDIATELY!
PETITION: MASSIVE DOG EUTHANASIA CAMPAIGN IS UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW! SIGN TO STOP IT!
JUSTICE FOR DOG POISONED AND LEFT TO DIE IN THE MIDDLEOF THE STREET BY CITY WORKERS!
LETTER TO COPY AND SEND
For the animals – Thank You.
Check out more about them law and the current situation for Serbian stray animals:
Go to –
If you are an EU citizen and you wish to bring up the ILLEGAL activities of the current Serbian authorities and suggest that Serbia remains from being allowed to join the EU until it enforces its own national laws, then you can write to your own Members of the European Parliament using the following link:
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHINTERS (Dog catchers), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 25, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Take a ride round our old and beautiful London town – past and present.
This is the oldest footage of London ever. Includes amazing old footage, plus modern shots.
Maybe Brits are a bit nutty when it comes to some things – but its all for Gorilla conservation !
Why not join Bill Oddie and hundreds of people dressed as gorillas to run, jog or walk 8km though the City of London in the 14th annual Great Gorilla Run to help save a species on the edge of extinction. – See more at: http://www.greatgorillarun.org/?gclid=COjE5orp3MsCFcsW0wodYTwCkA#sthash.9E9MZQFT.dpuf
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on March 23, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
by Joe Loria – March 9, 2016
A recent VICE News article spotlights the connection between animal agriculture and climate change.
Raising cattle for dairy and beef is one of the leading producers of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas that has 25 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide on a 100-year scale. As developing countries become wealthier and increasingly switch to a Western-style diet, global emissions are expected to rise.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that intestinal gas from livestock, mainly cattle, is the second-largest source of U.S. methane emissions. According to a report released by the EPA last week, these emissions added up to the equivalent of 648 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2014, with manure adding another 60 million.
“Americans eat a huge amount of meat. We eat 60 percent more than Europeans and somewhere between 150 or 200 percent of our needs,” remarks Dawn Undurraga, a nutritionist with Environmental Working Group.
While many think eating chicken, a less carbon-intensive meat, is better for the environment, consuming just a four-ounce serving is still comparable to driving a typical car nearly two miles. The same size serving of pork adds another mile.
British think-tank Chatham House reports that worldwide, livestock accounts for about 15 percent of global emissions and reducing consumption of animal products “will be critical” to hitting the climate change targets leaders set in Paris in December.
Governments of developing countries are trying to avoid the mistakes of the Western world. In Brazil, one of the largest beef producers, the government has established a set of dietary guidelines that encourages consumption of less carbon-intensive protein sources.
“I find it hard to believe we couldn’t waste less and eat better and not pollute the planet as much,” Undurraga says.
Be part of the solution and pledge to go veg. Click here to order your FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide today.
Please also check out the following from good friend Philip – CEO at England based ‘Compassion In World Farming’.
Farmageddon – The true cost of cheap meat.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 