BRASÍLIA—Brazil’s senate has approved a new chemical management bill that restricts animal testing to a “last resort” and requires development of a strategic plan to fully transition away from animal use, measures championed by Humane Society International. These measures, if endorsed by Brazil’s president, will compel the adoption of modern, human-relevant science, benefiting citizens, the environment, and animals alike.
“HSI is proud to have actively collaborated with the Brazilian Government and legislators in crafting this law, which reflects modern, ethical approaches to chemical testing. This law represents another step forward for animals in our country,” said Antoniana Ottoni, senior federal affairs specialist for Humane Society International in Brazil. “We commend the Government and Congress for their leadership in protecting animals used in chemical safety testing. By prioritizing animal-free methods, Brazil is positioning itself as a leader in ethical science and setting an example for other countries to follow.”
Senator Fabiano Contarato, who authored the Bill report at the Social Issues Commission said: “This new legislation is very welcome, and it will equate the country with the big nations regarding the commitments about chemical management, that is an important matter for all society. The choice to use modern technologies to assure the safety of chemicals and not rely on old and cruel animal testing is the right way to go”.
Humane Society International remains committed to working with policymakers, scientists, and the public to ensure the successful implementation of the new law and the development of the strategic plan.
Humane Society International/Europe hails groundbreaking decision for animal protection in Romania
Humane Society International / Europe
HSI
BUCHAREST/BRUSSELS—Humane Society International/Europe is celebrating a monumental victory for animal protection in Romania today, as the Romanian Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban chinchilla and mink fur farming, the only two fur farm industries that exist in the country. This groundbreaking decision is the result of nearly two years of political debates and sustained campaigning by HSI/Europe’s Romania office and fellow animal groups. Romania now becomes the 22nd country in Europe and 16th EU Member State to ban fur farming, marking a significant milestone in HSI’s global campaign to end the cruel practice of breeding and killing animals for fur fashion.
Ruud Tombrock, executive director for HSI/Europe, said: “Today’s decision to ban fur farming is not only a landmark moment for animal protection in Romania, but also a pivotal step in the broader European effort to end one of the cruelest forms of exploitation of animals. As public concern for animal welfare grows across Europe, demonstrated by the overwhelming success of the Fur Free Europe ECI, it is clear that fur farming has no place in a compassionate and ethical society and the only way to move forward is by adopting an EU-wide ban on production of fur.”
The bill was originally proposed after HSI/Europe conducted a shocking undercover investigation exposing appalling conditions on fur farms in Romania. Chinchillas were filmed confined in small, filthy wire cages, only to be killed for fur fashion at just a few months old in improvised gas chambers or by having their necks broken. Now that the bill has been voted through in the Chamber of Deputies, once promulgated it will make fur farming illegal in Romania effective 1st of January 2027. Although the legislation must be promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis and published in the Official Journal to become effective, this is anticipated to pass without delay.
According to a nationwide survey commissioned by HSI/Europe, over 67% of Romanians support a fur farming ban, further emphasizing public sentiment against the fur industry. In addition, HSI/Europe’s campaign in Romania gathered more than 74,000 petition signatures in favor of ending fur farming, which HSI/Europe submitted to the Romanian Parliament.
The fur industry in Romania is in decline, with the number of fur farms having dropped dramatically from more than 150 in 2013 to around a dozen in 2022 including two large mink farms producing approximately 100,000 mink pelts and 15,000 chinchilla pelts annually. The ban in Romania also tackles the environmental and human health hazards linked to fur farming, including the spread of zoonotic diseases, positioning Romania within the broader European movement that emphasizes animal welfare and sustainable practices.
Fur facts:
Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade, the majority reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
Fur farming has now been banned in 22 European countries—the 16 Member States of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guernsey, Norway, United Kingdom, North Macedonia and Serbia. In addition, Switzerland and Germany have implemented strict regulations which have effectively ended fur farming and Denmark, Sweden and Hungary have imposed measures that have ended the farming of certain species. Political discussion of a ban is underway in Bulgaria and Sweden.
Mink on almost 500 fur farms across 13 countries in Europe and North America have been found to be infected with COVID-19, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) has been found on 72 fur farms (one in Spain, 71 in Finland) to date. Millions of mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs and sable have been slaughtered on public health grounds.
Ten fashion brands in Romania have pledged to go fur-free after working with Humane Society International/Europe, and have become the first designers in Romania to join the global Fur Free Retailer Ioana Ciolacu, Muse um Concept, REDU, OCTAVIA CHIRU, Katerini, Hooldra, Feeric Fashion Week, Scapadona, Axente and Lenca join the almost 1,600 fashion brands, retailers and designers in 25 countries around the world that are part of the Fur Free Retailer program, including Gucci, Moncler, Prada, Adidas, H&M and Zara.
ENDS
View images/video are available here. To download these visuals, please contact commsromania@hsi.org
Zen Corporation Group becomes the largest Thai restaurant group in the country to embrace higher welfare standards for hens
Humane Society International / Southeast Asia
David Paul Morris
BANGKOK—Humane Society International in Thailand celebrates Zen Corporation Group for its commitment to use eggs from cage-free hens by 2028. With 11 restaurant brands and more than 240 outlets, Zen Corporation Group has become Thailand’s largest restaurant group to join the global cage-free movement. In 2024, the group already reached the 80% mark of its egg supply coming from cage-free hens, demonstrating its commitment to improving the lives of thousands of hens. By the 2028 deadline, all eggs used across Zen Corporation Group’s restaurants will come from hens kept in cage-free systems where they can engage in natural behaviors like perching and nesting.
This commitment is the result of close collaboration with Humane Society International, which began in 2023. HSI worked with Zen Corporation Group by providing expert guidance, facilitating key connections with local suppliers, organizing cage-free farm site visits, providing team training on the benefits of cage-free systems, and many other full supports on any related aspects of cage-free eggs policy.
In Thailand, where most of the country’s 95.8 million egg-laying hens are confined to tiny wire cages, Zen Corporation Group’s decision signals a major shift in the industry. By adopting a cage-free procurement policy, Zen Corporation Group is taking a critical step to reduce suffering and drive a change in the market. In a cage-free environment, hens can move more freely, perch, nest, and dustbathe, leading to significantly improved welfare and better lives.
“The group has been driven by strong passion of professional and expertise to develop creative menu and unique dining experience with love not only to the customers but every life related to us. Responsible consumption in our supply chain involving animal welfare is an essential element for our corporate social responsibility goals and sustainable development. Thus, cage-free eggs are one of the main programs we would like to move forward to successful implementation soon. This action is one of our goals to support local producers for sustainable business”, said Miss. Jomkwan Chirathivat, General Manager, Sustainable Development of Zen Corporation Group.
“Zen Corporation Group’s leadership will have a lasting impact on both the welfare of animals and the expectations of consumers in Thailand. As one of the largest Thai companies to adopt a cage-free policy, the team has dedicated time, shown the will and worked diligently to begin implementing these higher welfare standards. Thanks to their hard work, countless hens will have the space to spread their wings and a better life”, said Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand Program Manager, Farm Animal Welfare and Protection for Humane Society International.
Zen Corporation Group’s commitment is part of a national and global trend moving away from keeping hens in cages in egg production. It joins nearly 80 other national and multinational companies in Thailand such as AccorHotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Sodexo, Nestlé and Mondelēz International that are all committed to only supplying cage-free eggs. As consumer demand for more ethical and sustainable food options increases, companies like Zen Corporation Group are leading the charge for positive change.
ENDS
Media contact: Lalada Tangjerdjaras, Thailand program manager for farm animal welfare and protection at Humane Society International, ltangjerdjaras@hsi.org
Her powerful images of animal parts support efforts to pressure policymakers to strengthen protections for endangered species and ban hunting trophy imports
Jaschinski’s award-winning photo shows a new magnetic powder being applied to a confiscated elephant tusk. The technique can retrieve fingerprints up to 28 days after poachers handle the tusk, overcoming challenges posed by ivory’s porous nature. Over 200 kits of this powder have been distributed to border forces in Africa and Asia, aiding in cases involving trafficked ivory, tiger claws and rhino horn. The method is valued for its simplicity and effectiveness where DNA techniques cannot be used.
“Whether it is for trophies or to feed the demand for ivory, figures reveal that we are on track to wipe out one of the most iconic species by 2040.” says Britta Jaschinski. “Losing our beautiful elephants in the name of sport, power and greed is simply not acceptable. Lifting fingerprints of ivory and other confiscated wildlife is an important technique in the forensic tool kit and brings hope that we can disrupt and even dismantle entire trade chains. If we can’t save our most charismatic species, what hope is there for others? I am grateful to organisations like Humane Society International/Europe for amplifying these issues and for pushing for real political action to strengthen wildlife protection and in particular right now, to end the import of hunting trophies.”
HSI/Europe admires Jaschinski’s powerful work and has collaborated with her on the Still Life. Delivered– The macabre business of trophy hunting exhibition, which is part of the #NotInMyWorld campaign of the organization. The campaign highlights trophy hunting—the legal and senseless killing of iconic wild animals for sport which has severe environmental, ethical, social and economic impacts. Endangered species such as the hippopotamus, African elephant, African lion, leopard, brown bear and polar bear, turned into lifeless objects—from bottle openers to ashtrays—rendered as such by the barrel of a gun and immortalized by the lens of the camera. HSI/Europe’s campaign calls on the EU and its Member States to ban hunting trophy imports and urges businesses to stop supporting this practice. The Still Life. Delivered exhibition has appeared in Rome and Warsaw, with plans to travel to other cities to spotlight these works that expose how majestic living animals are killed by trophy hunters and turned into grim lifeless objects for mere personal satisfaction.
Through her work, the London-based photographer explores the human-nature relationship and its implications. Known for her distinctive style, she documents wildlife crimes and collaborates with international authorities and environmental organizations. As co-founder of Photographers Against Wildlife Crime™ and creator of The Evidence Project, she advocates for public awareness and political action to protect wildlife and natural habitats.
Ruud Tombrock, HSI/Europe executive director, congratulates Jaschinski on her award and emphasizes the urgency of political intervention: “Britta Jaschinski’s powerful images reveal the brutal reality behind trophy hunting and the immense suffering and exploitation of animals it involves and send a strong message to European policymakers to take decisive action to stop the import of these grotesque trophies. This is not just about protecting individual animals but preserving ecosystems and safeguarding the future of endangered species worldwide.”
Between 2013 and 2022, the European Union imported over 27,000 trophies from animals threatened by trade and listed under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), making the EU the second-largest importer of hunting trophies after the United States. Among the species targeted are iconic animals such as hippos, rhinos, lions and polar bears.
Globally, there has been a strong movement away from the trophy hunting industry. Many countries, such as Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Singapore, South Sudan and others already prohibit trophy hunting and/or trade in full or to a significant degree, while others, such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, the Netherlands, the United States and others have some level of national trade restrictions for hunting trophies beyond CITES’ minimum requirements. Private industry has also emerged as a global leader in environmental sustainability and responsibility, with 45 transport companies prohibiting the transport of some or all hunting trophies on their carriers, including airlines from the world’s top five and EU’s top three largest airline groups.
Media contact: Eva-Maria Heinen, senior manager media and communications, HSI/Europe, emheinen@hsi.org; tel: +39 333 8608589
Ilfov Country Council and Humane Society International/Europe launch program to care for street dogs and cats, empower local authorities and increase responsible pet ownership
Humane Society International / Europe
HSI
BUCHAREST, Romania—Together with the animal protection organization Humane Society International/Europe, the Ilfov County Council, kicked off a community-wide program to deliver free veterinary care to street dogs and cats. Teams of veterinarians will provide services such as spay and neuter, vaccination, microchipping, deworming treatments and first aid, to better protect people and animals. The initiative, running through 2025, is part of a broader effort to support local authorities in adopting humane population control strategies while promoting public education on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Roundtable discussions will also be held to support local and county authorities in creating strategic humane management plans for the region’s street animals.
Hundreds of street dogs and cats are likely to benefit from this initiative, contributing to a safer and healthier environment for both people and animals. The program will focus on high-priority areas, ranging from public institutions, former military bases, company headquarters, courtyards and disadvantaged and neglected areas within Ilfov County.
Hubert Thuma, president of Ilfov County Council, said: “I am not ashamed to say to Humane Society International/Europe: teach us, help us, work with us! At the same time, it makes me sad because I realize that after years and years, we as a country have not been able to care for street dogs and cats at the level they deserve. In 2013, we voted against the law on mass killing of animals. I explained then that mass sterilization, information and education were the solutions. Later, in 2020, when I became county council chairman, lo and behold, I was able to demonstrate that humane and effective methods exist. I thank HSI/Europe for the partnership for good that we have started together!”
HSI/Europe’s Compassion for Companions program has been supporting projects dedicated to helping pets in disadvantaged communities in Romania since 2022. Through local partner organizations, HSI facilitates access to veterinary care and assistance in communities where these services are non-existent or too expensive. More than 2,000 dogs and cats from shelters, from the streets or whose owners cannot afford the costs of veterinary care have been helped so far in several areas of Romania.
Andreea Rosetti, Romania country director at HSI/Europe says: ” We have launched the Compassion for Companions program in Romania because the animals here need as much support as possible. I have personally witnessed the desperate need for street animals to receive help and the veterinary medical care makes the difference between life and death. I also understand the struggle of those who care for the animals in a community who cannot take the burden of so many new puppies on the street. And this is where we help. We have started this collaboration with Ilfov County Council because Ilfov has already shown that they have an effective vision that puts the lives of all beings first.”
Dr. Katherine Polak, vice president of companion animal welfare and engagement at Humane Society International adds: “Humane Society International/Europe is ready to assist authorities in the humane management of stray dog and cat populations, drawing on data, rigorous research, and expertise in the field. HSI has a specialized Monitoring, Evaluation, Impact, and Assessment team that works globally to assist governments in identifying the best ways to manage free-roaming animal populations. We will help Ilfov authorities make informed and humane decisions for the benefit of the animals, as well as the community.”
HSI has successfully led animal population management programs all over the world to address companion animal welfare issues at a local or national level. Over the years, HSI’s MEIA team has provided support to local animal welfare organizations and governments with high-tech accuracy by developing mobile applications tailored to gather and track data for spay/neuter, catch-neuter-vaccinate-return of dogs and mass vaccination programs.
Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection Ilfov; 0768.78.41.2
Humane Society International / South Africa
Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals
CAPE TOWN, South Africa—The Animal Law Project (ALP) proudly announces the release of its groundbreaking manifesto, “A Manifesto for Transforming Animal Protection in South Africa: A Constitutional Imperative” for public discussion, engagement and consultations. The Animal Law Project is a collaborative project initiated by Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA), Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa), (as well as the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), a centre of the University of Johannesburg) in 2022.
The Manifesto was developed after extensive consultations with the animal protection sector, other stakeholders including experts, veterinarians, academics, civil society organisations as well as discussions with government. It calls for an overhaul of the legal framework governing animals, most notably, reform of the outdated Animals Protection Act, which has remained largely unchanged for over 60 years, pre-dating South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, it is crucial to acknowledge that while strides have been made in pursuing social justice for humans, animals have largely been left behind. Despite expanding scientific consensus about non-human animal sentience (the ability to experience both positive and negative states of being), other extensive and complex animal capacities, and the weight of moral concern around animal suffering, it is arguably one of the worst times in history to be an animal. South Africa, known for its rich biodiversity, must now strive for social justice that includes all species.
In a landmark 2016 decision, the Constitutional Court of South Africa recognised animal welfare as a deep principle of the Constitution. The court acknowledged the sentience of animals and emphasized the intrinsic value of animals as individuals, shifting the focus from merely safeguarding human moral status to robust protection of animal welfare. Despite this recognition, there have been few changes to the administration of animal protection, leaving animals vulnerable to countless harmful and cruel practices.
Hundreds of millions of animals in various sectors endure ongoing and extreme suffering in South Africa:
Over 1.1 billion land animals are produced and killed for food annually, with chickens making up the majority at over 950 million. The consumption of other animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, aquatic animals and even insects are also on the rise. Farmed animals often endure extensive harm, including close confinement, mutilation, forced pregnancies, and unnatural diets. Practices such as long-distance sea transport and mass killings during crises have exacerbated the situation.
Wild animals are commodified as “faunal biological resources” under an interpretation of “sustainable use,” often resulting in their exploitation. Wildlife “farming”, often seen as a conservation success, prioritizes economic gains over true conservation. Harmful practices like canned hunting, poaching, and trophy hunting are prevalent, and both legal and illegal practices lead to the systemic killing of animals.
Aquatic animals and invertebrates are often not recognised as animals, with their deaths being measured in tonnage rather than individually, and their suffering ignored entirely.
Laboratory animals are subjected to inhumane testing, often for trivial or unnecessary purposes, such as the development of cosmetic products. The animal testing industry is characterised by inadequate regulation and oversight.
Companion animals continue to suffer from homelessness, malnutrition, illness and abuse, with free-roaming populations facing unmanaged breeding and mass killings in shelters.
Animals are also exploited in entertainment, tourism, and various economic activities, often suffering from neglect.
The previous Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) has expressed the intention to draft a new Animal Welfare Bill. The ALP, initiated to address the gap that exist and to advocate for a just legal regime for animals in South Africa, by informing this legislative process with modern and constitutionally aligned animal protection proposals.
This newly released manifesto has drawn from stakeholder feedback from various sectors, including civil society organizations, human rights groups, the legal fraternity, environmental and conservation sectors, academics, veterinarians, and students.
The manifesto, available for public comment and feedback, consists of three parts:
Part I: Introducing the background, impetus, and scope of the ALP, summarizing the extensive consultations, and the manifesto’s purpose.
Part II: Providing a high-level problem statement, highlighting the deficiencies in current animal regulatory regime and institutions, reviewing international developments and introducing the concept of constitutional misalignment.
Part III: Presenting tangible proposals for transforming animal protection in South Africa, detailing foundational values, guiding principles, and enabling mechanisms. The three foundational values proposed are constitutional alignment, sentience, and intrinsic value. The ten guiding principles include animal flourishing, vulnerability, ubuntu, public interest, least harm and proportionality, justifiability, duty of care, non-arbitrariness, knowledge, and internationality. The enabling mechanisms draw on existing South African and foreign precedent and best practice as well as commonly accepted tenets of good governance.
The ALP calls on the public, policymakers, and all stakeholders to engage with the manifesto and contribute to shape a future where the protection of animals is understood and realised as a matter of social justice and a constitutional imperative in South Africa.
Along with the launch of the manifesto, the ALP hosted a thought-provoking photographic exhibition in Cape Town and Johannesburg, featuring the work of renowned photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur, alongside local artists from We Animals Media and South African activists. The exhibition, “Justice for Animals? The lived reality of animals in the 21st century” showcases the ongoing suffering of animals identified in the manifesto and aims to evoke a deeper understanding and empathy for the plight of animals.
Humane Society International/UK calls on the Government to conduct an urgent review of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s goals and spending priorities.
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
Stock Photography
LONDON— As the second round of a Government-backed multi-million pound ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign launches today, explicitly aimed at encouraging the public to eat more red meat and dairy, charity Humane Society International/UK says promoting climate-costly diets directly contradicts Labour’s manifesto health and nature goals and calls on farming Minister Daniel Zeichner to commission an urgent review. The campaign has been launched by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, a non-departmental public body, accountable to the UK Parliament through Defra Ministers, with board members appointed by the Secretary of State for Defra.
HSI/UK says a review is needed into the AHDB’s goals and spending priorities. HSI/UK’s analysis of Defra’s departmental spending figures shows that between January and June 2024, the AHDB spent over £2.5million on pro-meat propaganda, equating to at least 42% of AHDB total expenditure (£6.1million) (for line items over £25,000).
Animal agriculture accounts for an estimated 16.5% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the emissions from all global transportation. The Climate Change Committee says reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential to reach the UK’s legally binding climate targets and specifically recommended that Defra “Take low-cost, low-regret actions to encourage a 20% shift away from all meat by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050, and a 20% shift from dairy products by 2030, demonstrating leadership in the public sector whilst improving health.” This goal was reported as ‘overdue’ in the Committee’s 2023 annual report.
In its July 2024 report to Parliament the Climate Change Committee explicitly criticized the AHDB for continuing “to invest in proactive marketing campaigns to encourage meat and dairy consumption, despite the evidence showing that a reduction in meat and dairy consumption supports a shift towards low-carbon, sustainable and healthy diets.” One of their “priority policy recommendations” to the Government is to “Empower people to make low-carbon choices by communicating the most impactful ways to reduce emissions, such as changing car travel, home energy use and dietary behaviours… and support people to make these choices.”
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs for Humane Society International/UK, said “This AHDB campaign is reckless self-sabotage on Labour’s health and climate policy ambitions. As Ministers get to grips with how to deliver on manifesto pledges to reduce non-communicable diseases like heart attacks and cancers, and to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it makes zero sense for Defra to be quietly processing invoices for a lavish public marketing campaign that completely undermines both policy goals.
By law, the AHDB exists to help ‘improve the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development’ yet this year almost half of its spend has been on a resolutely head-in-the-sand campaign trying to cling on to unhealthy and unsustainable over-consumption of meat and dairy. We urge the new Labour Government to recalibrate the AHDB to allow it to prioritise playing a positive role in marketing the UK’s horticultural produce, including vegetables, legumes and grains, and stop fixating on flogging dead cows, sheep and pigs.”
In addition to drawing criticism from the CCC, the AHDB’s campaign was criticized by health professionals in May for its “inaccurate and misleading public health messaging”, noting that the campaign is “at odds with established scientific evidence on healthy and sustainable diets” and makes “suggestive ‘health benefits’ whilst ignoring the guidance to limit meat intake, particularly red and processed meat”.
The AHDB’s expenditure, including that for the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign, is funded by an industry levy. However, information obtained through Freedom of Information requests this year revealed that the £4.6million campaign was approved by former farming Minister, former dairy farmer Mark Spencer.
Against a backdrop of European governments including Denmark, Germany and Norway actively promoting more plant-based eating, and introducing higher taxes on meat production, HSI/UK condemns the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign as a regressive initiative that makes the UK look out of sync with European momentum towards people and planet friendly food and farming policies.
Notes
Labour’s 2024 election manifesto includes a commitment to “take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers and support people to live longer, healthier lives.” It also states that “Labour will ensure the institutional framework for policy making reflects our commitments to reach net zero and meet our carbon budgets.” and Labour “will deliver for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, and will work in partnership with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect our natural world.”
(a) increasing efficiency or productivity in the industry;
(b) improving marketing in the industry;
(c) improving or developing services that the industry provides or could provide to the community; and
(d) improving the ways in which the industry contributes to sustainable development.
Defra reporting on AHDB spends over £25,000, January–June 2024. Line items for ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign include advertising agency costs, creative Gen Z partnership agency fees, and online banner placement with Sainsbury’s.
Month
Spend naming ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ campaign
Total AHDB spend for month
January
£70,680
£669,934
February
£1,290,996
£1,916,876
March
£1,006,171
£1,993,229
April
£137,9191
£535,666
May
–
£645,358
June
£90,465
£410,567
Total
£2,596,231
£6,171,630
Based on a conservative interpretation of Defra’s spend reporting, 42% of the AHDB’s expenditure for January-June 2024 was on the ‘Let’s Eat Balanced’ and ‘Love Pork’ campaigns designed to convince the public to eat more red meat and dairy.
Media contact: Sally Ivens, senior specialist media and communications for HSI/UK ;sivens@hsi.org
Humane Society International / India
HSI
WAYANAD, Kerala—Humane Society International/India is on the ground in Kerala, southwest India, providing critical emergency relief to hundreds of animals affected by the devastating landslides and floods that hit Wayanad on July 30. The landslides, which have so far resulted in more than 350 human deaths with several hundred more people still missing, have also left hundreds of animals including dogs, cats and cattle trapped, stranded, injured and in desperate need of food or veterinary attention.
HSI/India has deployed its animal rescue team to aid relief efforts, including the distribution of 200kgs of emergency animal feed to stranded cattle, as well as medical and veterinary supplies, additional food and water rations, and providing shelter for animals.
HSI/India is working in coordination with official rescue teams, veterinary authorities and other local NGOs, and will expand relief efforts over the next few days to provide aid to more animals in two districts including Mundakkai and Chooralmala.
Praveen Suresh, HSI/India’s program manager of disaster response is on the ground and said: “Hundreds of animals are at risk in Wayanad’s Mundakkai and Chooralmala districts. The range of destruction caused by the series of landslides is something we did not expect to see. We are working around the clock to provide relief to every animal in need we come across. We also plan to strengthen our strategy which was focused on Wayanad for long term intervention for disaster risk reduction in the region.”
HSI/India has been actively working in Wayanad district of Kerala to build a disaster-resilient district for both humans and animals, and conducted flood preparedness trainings with communities and government to safeguard animals and their families during disasters like floods and landslides.
Media contact: Shaili Shah, sshah@hsi.org; +91 9930591005
Humane Society International / Europe
HSI
MILAN—After receiving hundreds of thousands of emails from compassionate consumers around the world, thousands of phone calls, countless social media posts and even having a hot air balloon flown over its headquarters in Italy asking it to go fur-free, Max Mara Fashion Group has officially announced a fur-free policy.
In an internal memo to staff, Max Mara said, “The Company does not sell, online nor in any of its physical retail locations, any products made with fur, nor is there the intention to introduce any products made with fur into any upcoming collections of Max Mara Fashion Group brands.”
This was confirmed by a Max Mara executive, who added, “Max Mara, including the MMFG and any subsidiaries, has adopted a fur-free policy and has no intention of introducing fur into any upcoming collection for any of the MMFG brands.”
This announcement comes after the Fur Free Alliance, a coalition of more than 50 animal protection organizations―including Humane Society International― from over 35 countries, launched a global campaign during fashion weeks in February 2024 in New York City, London, Milan and Paris urging the Italian fashion giant to adopt a fur-free policy. The campaign saw more than 270,000 emails, 5,000 phone calls and countless social media posts delivering a clear message asking Max Mara to go fur-free.
Max Mara Fashion Group has 2,500+ stores in 105 countries and was previously selling items such as mink gloves, fox fur cuffs and a raccoon dog key chain. The brand now joins the world’s major fashion-houses that have already gone fur-free, including Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Armani.
In February this year, Humane Society International/Europe and LAV flew a hot-air balloon over Max Mara’s headquarters in the city of Reggio Emilia during Milan Fashion Week, displaying a fur-free message.
P.J Smith, director of fashion policy at Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Congratulations to Max Mara for joining so many other fashion brands and retailers that have already taken a stand against the cruel fur trade. Activists around the world came together to ask Max Mara to do the right thing, and they listened, making it clear fur has no place in fashion. Let’s celebrate this win for animals and a fur-free future!”
Joh Vinding, chairman of the Fur Free Alliance, said: “The Fur Free Alliance applauds Max Mara for going fur-free. Max Mara was one of the last global fashion brands that still sold fur, so we’re glad they have now joined a growing list of fur-free brands that want nothing to do with animal cruelty associated with the fur trade.”
Today, over 1,500 brands and retailers have pledged to go fur-free by joining the Fur Free Retailer Program.
Fur facts:
Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade. The majority of the animals killed for fur are reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
Fur farming has been banned in 21 European countries – the 15 Member States of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Guernsey, Norway, United Kingdom, North Macedonia and Serbia. In addition, two countries (Switzerland and Germany) have implemented strict regulations which have effectively brought fur farming to an end and three countries (Denmark, Sweden, Hungary) have imposed measures that have ended the farming of certain species. Mink farming has also been banned in the Canadian province of British Colombia. Political discussion of a ban is underway in Bulgaria, Romania and Sweden.
Israel became the first country to ban fur sales, in 2021. In the United States, fur sales are banned in the state of California as well as ins 16 towns or cities. Political discussion on a fur import ban is underway in Switzerland
Mink on almost 488 fur farms across 13 countries in Europe and North America have been found to be infected with COVID-19. Millions of farmed mink, in countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, were ordered to be killed on public health grounds. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) has been found on 72 fur farms (one in Spain, 71 in Finland) to date. Around 500,000 animals, including mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs and sable, have been ordered to be killed on public health grounds.
Media contact: Yavor Gechev, EU communications director: ygechev@hsi.org
Consumers could unwittingly break new law banning glue traps, says Humane Society International/UK
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
videomane1/Pixabay
LONDON—England today becomes the third UK nation, after Wales and Scotland, to bring into force a ban on the use of rodent glue traps, which are described by leading animal protection organisation Humane Society International/UK as “inhumane, indiscriminate and indefensible”.
Entering into force today, the Glue Traps (Offences) Act prohibits use of glue traps by the public. The ban has been welcomed by HSI/UK, which led the Unstuck campaign to end the public’s use of glue traps. However, as glue traps remain on sale to the public throughout the UK despite their use by the public now being illegal, the charity is urging caution against accidental law breaking.
The rudimentary traps, widely available for as little as 99p from hardware and corner shops, immobilise small mammals in strong adhesive in which the animals can suffocate, rip off skin and fur and break their limbs in desperate efforts to escape. The traps also pose a serious risk to other species, including hedgehogs, cats and wild birds, with numerous reports every year of animals being caught and suffering often fatal injuries.
Claire Bass, senior campaigns and public affairs director for Humane Society International/UK, said: “We are delighted that it is no longer legal for members of the public to use these horrendously cruel traps which cause immense suffering to animals, who have been known to chew off their own limbs in a desperate attempt to escape. But confusingly, although it is now an offence for the public to use glue traps, it is not illegal to sell or buy them which means consumers could unwittingly commit an offence. We will be raising awareness of the new law so that people don’t unintentionally break it, and we’re also calling on retailers to voluntarily stop stocking these traps. We are urging the UK, Welsh and Scottish governments to unite on a glue traps sales ban.”
HSI/UK’s research on the welfare problems of glue traps is referenced in glue trap ban legislation passed in all three nations. It shows that when confronted with a dying animal on a trap more than 50% of the public say they either would not know what to do with them or would take an action that risks committing an offence under the Animal Welfare Act (2006) for causing unnecessary suffering, including 9% who said they would drown the animal.
As well as being inhumane, killing animals like mice and rats typically does not offer a permanent solution to the problems their presence might cause. Treating the symptom by eliminating a single rat or mouse—or even an entire colony—is ultimately futile unless the conditions that encouraged them to take up residence in the first place are addressed. Over time, others will simply move into the vacated territory. HSI/UK advocates humane methods of deterrence such as removing food sources and blocking up access holes which are ultimately more effective than the “quick fix” of killing. Read more here.
The ban explained:
The Glue Trap (Offences) Act 2022 requires rodent control professionals in England to apply for and hold licenses for glue trap use only in exceptional circumstances and where all alternative methods are impossible or have failed.
Anyone applying for a licence needs to complete required training and meet specific requirements, including the need to carry out regular inspections of the trap and prevent the capture of non-target animals.
Anyone caught setting a glue trap to catch a rodent, or in a way that risks catching a rodent (without a licence), or who permits a trap to be set to catch a rodent, could face up to 51 weeks in prison, or receive a fine, or both.
Anyone who finds a glue trap that risks catching a rodent and fails to act to stop the risk could be fined, unless they have a reasonable excuse for why they failed to act.
The Welsh Government introduced a full ban on use of rodent glue traps in 2023.
Earlier this year the Scottish Government passed a ban—with an allowance for Ministers to approve glue trap use in exceptional circumstances where all other methods have failed—and asked to be allowed an exemption to the Internal Markets Act to allow Scotland to unilaterally ban the sale of glue traps, but the UK Government has so far denied this.
ENDS
Media contact: Sally Ivens, HSI/UK, sivens@hsi.org ; 07590 559299
