Better Labelling will lead to better Animal Protection - MEP

11.04.26am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Oct 2006

A labelling system for animal products sold in the EU that tells shoppers whether minimum animal welfare standards have been followed is a key way to end global animal cruelty according to a Lib Dem MEP.

Responding to a new report being presented to the European Parliament in Brussels, Euro-MP Liz Lynne said:

"Animal cruelty is a terrible and persistent evil that is taking place throughout the world and even though the EU has good legislation protecting animals, the rest of the world is not always so humane.

"At the moment, if a shopper in the EU wants to buy food or animal products coming from outside the EU, they have no way of knowing if the animal concerned was treated properly or not.

"A new, more informative labelling system telling us that minimum welfare standards have been followed would mean we could make the decision to shun any product involving animal cruelty.

"If people aren't buying their products, farmers and businesses outside of the EU would soon start thinking about how they treat their animals or else see their business go elsewhere.

"I am also pleased to see the report highlights the Commission's continued failure to carry out the ban on imports of cat, dog and seal products into the EU it keeps on promising us.

"The practices reported in the farming of such products, such as skinning animals alive, are horrific and we need to close this trade down by stopping goods being sold here."

Editor's Notes

The report on the Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006-2010 was adopted by the European Parliament in Brussels.