Humane Society International
Author: Kristin Stone
Humane Society International
In 2021, the number of animals used for research testing in South Korea reached a record high of 4.8 million. This trend of increased animal testing in South Korea cuts against the global trend of development and adoption of innovative, non-animal approaches—the New Approach Methodologies. Despite its current reliance on animals, South Korea is actively involved in the pursuit of innovative approaches including organ-on-a-chip technology, organoids and computer-based modelling. However, wider adoption of NAMs is slow and could be accelerated through stronger harmonization of efforts involving regulatory authorities and other stakeholders.
To provide the legislative support needed to advance the use of of NAMs, HSI/Korea has been working with lawmakers, researchers, and industries to pass the PAAM Act. This bill, the Act on the Promotion of Development, Dissemination and Use of Alternative to Animal Testing Methods, was introduced in 2020 at Korea’s National Assembly by Assemblymember Ms. In-soon Nam.
As a part of ongoing efforts to raise stakeholder awareness around the PAAM Act and the need for wider adoption of NAMs, HSI/Korea’s director of government affairs, Borami Seo, spoke to Dr. Lorna Ewart, chief scientific officer at Emulate, Inc. Emulate produces human cell-based technologies that recreate human biology, Organ-Chips, also known as microphysiological systems. We asked Dr. Ewart to explain how these technologies can shift the paradigm of health research toward more human-predictive methods.
HSI: For those readers who are unfamiliar with organ-on-a-chip technology, could you briefly explain what it is?
Lorna Ewart: OOC is an in vitro model that allows cells to exist and function as if they were in the human body. We believe that if the cells are in an environment familiar to them, they will function like they would in the human body. Therefore, the data we generate from these models, can be translated into whole human body response, increasing the translational value of the data.
HSI: OOC is still a new technology. What are the challenges that you have been facing?
Lorna Ewart: At Emulate, we see five major challenges. One, scientists need to be convinced that the microfluidic platform is robust and reliable. Now that we can show this, the next challenge is sourcing good quality human cells. Cell quality is a challenge for the industry at large, but it is important because good cells make good models, and this equals good data. The third challenge is ensuring that we reduce the complexity of operation. We want to make it as easy as possible for scientists to work with our instruments to generate data. The next challenge would be answering the question, “Why bother using organ-chips when there are other methods?” We need to demonstrate the value of data generated using OOC. Lastly, there are many organizations developing OOC models. Engineers are building diverse microfluidics platforms or designing different chips. Many people in this field believe that having different types, shapes and sizes of instruments or chips is slowing the field down. Therefore, there are many discussions around the standardization of the technology which will accelerate adoption and ultimately commercialization of OOC, but standardization too soon may reduce overall innovation.
HSI: What are the prospects of OOC? How far has the commercialization process come?
Lorna Ewart: At Emulate, we work with academic researchers, scientists in the pharmaceutical industry, and government agencies, predominantly the US Food and Drug Administration. Those scientists are either using models that we have developed or we train them to build their own models. Emulate currently has validated workflows and applications for five major organs: the liver, the colon intestine, the duodenum intestine, the brain and the kidney. However, our customers have built over 70 various combinations of models and applications.
In terms of commercialization, Emulate began to be commercially active in 2018. We sell the Human Emulate System, which includes the chips, the microfluidic instrument, software and accessories needed for scientists to use OOC in their research. If researchers want, they can also buy cells from Emulate, which we call a “Biokit,” across the five organ models we are building. Or customers can buy chips that are compatible with the microfluidic instrument and build models using their own cells. We also perform fee-for-service studies where customers ask us to perform the experiment on their behalf, often involving one of their assets.
HSI: For regulatory adoption, standardization seems to be the next step. How does it work with regulators?
Lorna Ewart: The US and EU regulatory authorities welcome the fact that OOC platforms represent a credible approach to animal models. They are specifically interested to learn if these new models can provide data that closely resemble human responses and that they are reproducible and reliable.
Regulatory authorities want to understand the relevance of the data that OOC can provide. This is because they are primarily interested in safety data generated from OOC. The regulator’s role in progressing candidate drugs into clinical trials relies on demonstrating that it is safe for humans. In subsequent phases of clinical development, efficacy is of paramount importance. Models that show a high degree of human relevance will give the regulators greater confidence to progress the candidate drug into the clinic. We should also remember that regulators also want confidence in drug efficacy and OOC can also be used for this purpose and may also reduce the use of animals.
HSI: Can you give us an example where OOC is used to generate safety data and show its value?
Lorna Ewart: According to current regulatory guidelines, candidate drugs are required to be tested in two animal species, typically a rat and dog, when considering small molecules.
In November 2019, Emulate published in Science Translational Medicine, describing the simultaneous development of rat, dog, and human Liver-Chips. We demonstrated that species chips were able to reproduce species-specific toxicity, importantly highlighting where chips could highlight toxicities that were not relevant to human, therefore enabling a candidate drug to progress but equally showing that toxicity detected in human Liver-Chips should be considered very carefully before progressing to a clinical trial. Regulatory authorities are very interested in understanding how this technology can be used to generate more human-relevant data like this.
To my knowledge, there has been no declaration of any pharmaceutical companies stating the use of OOC instead of animal models for safety testing. But I believe it will happen.
HSI: How is OOC replacing animal testing?
Lorna Ewart: I see that OOC has a role in each of the categories of the 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.
Reduction is probably the first example where OOC will impact. Emulate recently completed the single largest Organ-Chip study to date where we evaluated the performance of the human Liver-Chip across 27 small molecules that had been in the clinic. Liver-Chip was able to detect 9 out of 10 drugs that resulted in clinical hepatotoxicity. As such, we propose that scientists should adopt this model and use it before dose range finding studies in animals. By doing this, scientists can identify hepatoxic drug candidates earlier in their screening cascades. They would therefore not need to perform the in vivo study for this candidate, thus reducing the number of animals used. Ultimately, as more organ chip models show a high predictive value for clinical outcome, conversations about the steps towards replacement of animals can begin.
Refinement may be a little harder to demonstrate but it is possible to use OOC to understand the exposure ranges and therefore avoid exposing animals to unnecessarily high doses of the candidate drug.
HSI: Do you see researchers moving away from animal testing? What’s your perspective on this?
Lorna Ewart: I sense that there is growing momentum in the field of animal model alternatives. I believe we are in very exciting times, perhaps at the tip of the iceberg with growing voices from younger scientific generations questioning the validity of animal testing, especially as technology continues to advance.
Governments can also play a major role. Korea’s PAAM Act will help accelerate the acceptance and use of NAMs. Discussions in the European Union are also pushing scientists to think differently. It’s not going to happen just through one organization, one scientist alone. It’s partnership work.
HSI: Regarding the role of government, do you have any suggestions how Korean government can encourage the OOC field and move towards non-animal approaches?
Lorna Ewart: Firstly, the technology has huge potential, but the field needs further investment to continue to improve it and realize its full value. If the Korean government can consider targeted investment towards non-animal alternatives such as human relevant models, it would drive the field forward.
Additionally, government can also proactively encourage the use of new technologies especially when it comes to developing pharmaceutical products. This can be done by positively choosing to use alternatives rather than accepting the traditional norm of animal testing.
HSI: Regarding Korea’s PAAM Act, how do you think it will contribute to advancing science communities?
Lorna Ewart: Researchers will be able to use the best tools available to them, instead of being limited by animal models, which are known to have translational issues. By reducing our global reliance on non-human testing methods and instead leveraging human biology for human drug development, we anticipate the combination of human biology and technology to usher in a new era in human health.
Reference in this article to any specific brand, trade, firm or corporation name is for the information of the public only, and does not constitute or imply endorsement by Humane Society International or its affiliates of any specific company or its products or services, and should not be construed as or relied upon, under any circumstances, by implication or otherwise, as investment advice. The views and opinions expressed in the article do not necessarily state or accurately reflect those of Humane Society International or its affiliates.
Humane Society International / Global
When looking for your next flight, the Humane Society family of organizations urges you to consider airlines that currently have a hunting trophy transport ban.
Humane Society International is fighting to end trophy hunting around the world for good. The transport industry has a stake in the harmful global trade in hunting trophies. Therefore, we are working with major players to help them implement policies prohibiting the transport of hunting trophies.
Trophy hunting is killing animals for the purpose of acquiring parts or all of the animals for display. Trophy hunters do not kill animals in order to eat them. A hunting trophy is the dead animal, or the parts of an animal such as its head, skin, claws, teeth or any other body part, that the hunter keeps as a souvenir, decoration or display to represent the success of his or her hunt.
Airlines, freight carriers, and other businesses in the transport sector are in a unique position to protect wild animals from extinction due to exploitation. Each year, hundreds of thousands of animals, including endangered and threatened species, are killed by trophy hunters worldwide. Being able to transport a hunting trophy home is a key motivation for trophy hunting. Hunting trophy transport bans are aimed at reducing the number of trophies being transported, thereby reducing the animals being killed in countries worldwide.
Policies to ban trophy transport
Hunting trophies are transported home by air and other modes of transportation. By air, the hunting trophy can be carried onboard by a passenger as cabin luggage or as checked baggage. The hunting trophy can also be transported as cargo in a plane without a passenger. The passenger airline and the cargo handler are often different companies using the same plane. We make clear distinctions between passenger baggage and freight policy restrictions. It is important that airline policies include both baggage and cargo prohibitions. Without such a distinction and without strict, published company policies that include hunting trophies as prohibited items, trophy hunters may continue to easily and cost-effectively transport their hunting trophies through major airlines.
Fortunately, a growing number of airlines, cargo handlers and other companies in the transportation industry are saying “no” to hunting trophies by instituting policies to prohibit the transport of hunting trophies in baggage and/or cargo. The companies listed below have included hunting trophy bans in their online baggage and cargo policies.
Reference to any specific brand, trade, firm or corporation name is for the information of the public only, and does not constitute or imply endorsement by Humane Society International or its affiliates of any specific provider or its products or services. Links and access by hypertext to other websites is provided as a convenience only and does not indicate any endorsement with respect to any of the content on such websites. The information is obtained from public sources believed to be reliable, but is in no way guaranteed regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
No * = Passenger airline
* = Freight and cargo
** = Other in transport industry
A
Aerolíneas Argentinas | Argentina
Product list of prohibited and restricted items in luggage: Hunting Trophies (Argentine Autochthonous Fauna) – The transport of hunting trophies is prohibited on all company flights, both in domestic and international flights. Important: this prohibition does not apply to invasive alien species for which the necessary documentation is available for export. In such cases, the dispatch must be carried out by Cargo. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.aerolineas.com.ar/es-ar/equipaje/restringidos?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Banner%20inferior%20de%20informaciones%20varias&utm_campaign=Art%C3%ADculos%20restringidos&artid=aeswbgi763)
AeroMéxico | Mexico
Forbidden and restricted baggage: Exotic species and hunting trophies – In order to protect Mexico’s biodiversity and natural heritage, AeroMéxico prohibits transporting hunting trophies on all its routes, both domestic and international. We also work with the corresponding authorities to prevent illegal-exotic-species traffic as well as its products and byproducts. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://aeromexico.com/en-nl/travel-information/baggage/forbidden-restricted-bagggage)
AeroMéxico Cargo | Mexico *
Dangerous goods forbidden by Aeromexico Cargo – The following items cannot be shipped by Aeromexico Cargo due to various corporate commitments, laws and restrictions mandated by Aviation Security:
Trophy hunting animals. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://amcargo.aeromexico.com/content/4-envios/1-limitaciones/prohibited_en.pdf)
Air France | France
Prohibited and regulated goods – 14 – Protected animals and plants -The illegal trade and transport of endangered animals and plants, or products derived from these protected species, is a growing threat to biodiversity. The following are strictly prohibited:
. the transport of hunting trophies (even if legally obtained) on all flights, in the hold, cabin, or cargo,
. the import of protected* animal or plant species, whether whole bodies or parts of living or non-living species.
Please don’t put yourself in an illegal situation, and stand by our side: check the legality of the products you carry, whether in the hold or the cabin.
* The list of protected species is defined by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
Last accessed May 23, 2024. (See https://wwws.airfrance.nl/information/bagages/produits-interdits-et-reglementes#14)
Air France Cargo | France *
Prohibited and regulated goods – 14 – Protected animals and plants -The illegal trade and transport of endangered animals and plants, or products derived from these protected species, is a growing threat to biodiversity. The following are strictly prohibited:
. the transport of hunting trophies (even if legally obtained) on all flights, in the hold, cabin, or cargo,
. the import of protected* animal or plant species, whether whole bodies or parts of living or non-living species.
Please don’t put yourself in an illegal situation, and stand by our side: check the legality of the products you carry, whether in the hold or the cabin.
* The list of protected species is defined by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
Last accessed May 23, 2024. (See https://wwws.airfrance.nl/information/bagages/produits-interdits-et-reglementes#14)
Air New Zealand Cargo | New Zealand *
International restrictions & prohibitions – Prohibited items – Hunting trophies: Lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo hunting trophies. Last accessed May 28, 2024. (See https://www.airnewzealandcargo.com/international-cargo-prohibited-for-travel)
American Airlines Cargo | United States *
Policies and Restrictions: Other Regulations: Pet Policy – American Airlines does not transport the following wild game trophies: elephant, lion, water buffalo, rhinoceros, or leopard. We reserve the right to refuse any wild game hunting trophy shipment. American Airlines also does not transport shark fins and shark fin products, in any form or packaging type. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.aacargo.com/learn/animals-policy-and-restrictions.html#aircraft-restrictions)
B
Buzz (Ryanair) | Poland
8.9 PROHIBITED ITEMS – You must not carry any of the following items in checked-in luggage or carry-on baggage, or go through security with them on you (for example in your pockets): 8.9.4. Fish, birds or any animals killed and kept as hunting trophies. Last accessed September 23, 2024 (See https:// https://www.buzzair.com/en/terms-conditions-of-carriage/#article-8-baggage)
C
Cargolux | Luxembourg *
Embargoed goods – As a company strongly focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability, Cargolux has a growing list of items that it will not carry, on any of its network routes, for ethical and legal reasons. Cargolux has imposed the following commercial and/or regulatory embargoes:
Hunting trophies, any type/species. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.cargolux.com/Our-Expertise/Embargoed-Goods)
Cargolux Italia | Italy *
Embargoed goods – As a company strongly focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability, Cargolux has a growing list of items that it will not carry, on any of its network routes, for ethical and legal reasons. Cargolux has imposed the following commercial and/or regulatory embargoes:
Hunting trophies, any type/species. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.cargolux-italia.com/Our-Expertise/embargoed-goods)
Cathay Pacific Cargo | China *
Sustainable development cargo carriage policy: Wildlife – Not knowingly facilitate or tolerate the carriage of illegal wildlife products, or game or hunting trophies (including legally hunted or legally acquired trophies). The Company understands that research will be on-going and the determination of good practice is a dynamic process, meaning this Policy will evolve over time. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.cathaypacificcargo.com/en-us/helpsupport/specialcargohandlingprocedures/sustainabledevelopmentcargocarriagepolicy.aspx)
Condor | Germany
Condor is committed to combating unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade, in accordance with CITES* regulations, and has a zero tolerance policy towards the transport of endangered and threatened species, hunting trophies (including legally hunted or legally acquired trophies) or other products associated with illegal wildlife activities, as carry-ons or checked baggage. Training is provided, in accordance with IATA guidelines for animal transport, which includes close scrutiny of documents and examination of transport containers. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.condor.com/us/flight-preparation/baggage-and-animals/travelling-with-pets.jsp)
*Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
Corendon Dutch Airlines | The Netherlands
Forbidden Items – In connection with flight safety on board, the following items, both in hand baggage and in hold baggage, are not permitted: Trophies of (parts of) animals resulting from hunting, even when obtained legally. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.corendon.nl/bagage#verboden-items)
D
Delta Cargo | United States *
Restrictions – Delta Cargo prohibits the following: Shipping hunting trophies such as lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/products/specialized-live?from=home)
DHL Express | Germany *
Prohibited Commodities – Hunting (Animal) trophies, animal parts such as ivory and shark fins, animal remains, or Animal-by-Products and derived products not intended for human consumption, prohibited for movement by the CITES Convention and/or local law. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.dhlexpress.nl/en/shipping/business/what-can-i-ship)
DHL Parcel | Germany **
DHL does not ship the following products: Certain rules apply to the content of your parcel. For security reasons we do not ship the following items: Animals (including insects), parts of animals (also fur and ivory) and hunting trophies. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.dhlparcel.nl/en/consumer/support/sending/not-allowed-ship#:~:text=For%20security%20reasons%20we%20do,valuable%20documents%20such%20as%20passports)
E
easyJet Europe | Austria
Terms and Conditions: Dangerous Goods and Items Unacceptable as Baggage – 13.18 You must not include in your Baggage the items listed below: …13.18.6 human or animal remains. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions)
easyJet Switzerland | Switzerland
Terms and Conditions: Dangerous Goods and Items Unacceptable as Baggage – 13.18 You must not include in your Baggage the items listed below: …13.18.6 human or animal remains. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions)
easyJet UK | United Kingdom
Terms and Conditions: Dangerous Goods and Items Unacceptable as Baggage – 13.18 You must not include in your Baggage the items listed below: …13.18.6 human or animal remains. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions)
Emirates | United Arab Emirates
Protecting wildlife: Emirates has a zero tolerance policy on carrying banned species, hunting trophies or any products associated with illegal wildlife activities. Over the years, we’ve continually demonstrated our strong commitment to supporting CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) protocols in collaboration with entities such as the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Last assessed October 27, 2023. (See https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about-us/our-planet/preserving-wildlife-and-habitats/)
Emirates SkyCargo | United Arab Emirates *
POLICY ON HUNTING TROPHIES AND PRODUCTS UNDER CITES APPENDIX 1: As a signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration (BPD) and operating in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR), Emirates has a zero-tolerance policy on the carriage of banned species, hunting trophies or any product associated with illegal wildlife trade. We will not accept the following for carriage:
1. Products and parts of endangered animals, including hunting trophies, and plants (listed in CITES Appendix I)
2. Hunting trophies of elephants, rhinoceros, lions, and tigers
A complete list of restricted wildlife shipments can be found in the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) manual (under the Emirates Operator Variations).
Emirates proudly holds the IATA Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) certification, underscoring our stance on a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products worldwide. Last assessed 27/10/2023 (See https://www.skycargo.com/report-illegal-wildlife-trading/)
Etihad Airways | United Arab Emirates
Animal welfare and conservation policy – The Carriage of Animals, Plants and Their Products: We recognise that many animal and plant species around the world are in danger of extinction if efforts are not made to protect them, and that the trade in animals, plants and their products can negatively impact their survival. With this in mind, Etihad is committed to the conservation of species of animals, plants, and their products, and will not knowingly accept the carriage of: Hunting trophies derived from or containing any parts of animal origin, whether the animal concerned was wild born or bred in captivity. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See: https://www.etihadaviationgroup.com/content/dam/eag/corporate/etihadaviation/en-ae/desktop2/pdfs/Animal_Welfare_and_Conservation_Policy.pdf)
Etihad Cargo | United Arab Emirates *
Animal welfare and conservation policy – The Carriage of Animals, Plants and Their Products: We recognise that many animal and plant species around the world are in danger of extinction if efforts are not made to protect them, and that the trade in animals, plants and their products can negatively impact their survival. With this in mind, Etihad is committed to the conservation of species of animals, plants, and their products, and will not knowingly accept the carriage of: Hunting trophies derived from or containing any parts of animal origin, whether the animal concerned was wild born or bred in captivity. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See: https://www.etihadaviationgroup.com/content/dam/eag/corporate/etihadaviation/en-ae/desktop2/pdfs/Animal_Welfare_and_Conservation_Policy.pdf)
F
Finnair | Finland
Special cargo – Finnair has placed an embargo concerning hunting trophies, including their skin/hide and all articles made from or containing parts of such animals. Last accessed November 9, 2023. (See https://company.finnair.com/en/sustainability/environmental-sustainability)
Finnair Cargo | Finland *
Special cargo – Finnair has placed an embargo concerning hunting trophies, including their skin/hide and all articles made from or containing parts of such animals. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://cargo.finnair.com/en/products/special-cargo)
I
ITA Airways | Italy
Baggage – Restricted and prohibited items – Hunting trophies –
In compliance with ITA Airways’ ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) commitments, we intend to contribute to protecting biodiversity and promoting the protection and conservation of wild fauna, as envisaged by the goals of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). To this end, ITA Airways has joined the “Humane Society International” campaign, and formally bans the transport of all hunting trophies (including individual parts of animals) on all its flights, both in cargo shipments and in passengers’ checked baggage.
In this way, ITA Airways wishes to express its support for the two bills, currently being examined by the Italian Parliament, for zero tolerance towards the importation, exportation and re-exportation of such items, as indicated by the European Parliament’s Convention. Last accessed November 30, 2023. (See https://www.ita-airways.com/en_en/fly-ita/baggage/restricted-and-prohibited-items.html)
ITA Airways Cargo | Italy *
Baggage – Restricted and prohibited items – Hunting trophies –
In compliance with ITA Airways’ ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) commitments, we intend to contribute to protecting biodiversity and promoting the protection and conservation of wild fauna, as envisaged by the goals of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). To this end, ITA Airways has joined the “Humane Society International” campaign, and formally bans the transport of all hunting trophies (including individual parts of animals) on all its flights, both in cargo shipments and in passengers’ checked baggage.
In this way, ITA Airways wishes to express its support for the two bills, currently being examined by the Italian Parliament, for zero tolerance towards the importation, exportation and re-exportation of such items, as indicated by the European Parliament’s Convention. Last accessed November 30, 2023. (See https://www.ita-airways.com/en_en/fly-ita/baggage/restricted-and-prohibited-items.html)
K
KLM Cargo | The Netherlands *
4.3.3 Impact on Biodiversity – Through its membership of IATA, the Group is also committed to full compliance with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Air France and KLM also have a worldwide policy prohibiting the transportation of hunting trophies (even when obtained legally) on board all their flights, in checked luggage, carry-on baggage and cargo. Last accessed May 27, 2024. (See https://www.airfranceklm.com/sites/default/files/2024-04/af_urd_2023_uk_vmel2_260424.pdf)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | The Netherlands
Restricted items in checked baggage: Prohibited items – You are not allowed to bring the following items in your checked baggage: Products of animal origin. You cannot bring any products of animal origin that are the result of hunting, including (parts of) animals. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.klm.nl/en/information/baggage/restricted-items-checked-baggage#prohibited-items)
L
LOT Cargo | Poland *
Embargo Restrictions – Goods that are not accepted on PLL LOT aircrafts: Others: Hunting trophies. Last accessed May 27, 2024. (See https://www.lot.com/pl/en/cargo/products/restrictions)
M
Malta Air (Ryanair) | Malta
General terms & conditions (06 Sep 2021) – 8.9 Prohibited items: 8.9.4 Fish, birds or any animals killed and kept as hunting trophies. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/terms-and-conditions1)
R
Ryanair DAC Ireland | Ireland
General terms & conditions (06 Sep 2021) – 8.9 Prohibited item: …8.9.4 Fish, birds or any animals killed and kept as hunting trophies. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/terms-and-conditions/termsandconditionsar_696869348)
Ryanair UK | United Kingdom
General terms & conditions (06 Sep 2021) – 8.9 Prohibited items: …8.9.4 Fish, birds or any animals killed and kept as hunting trophies. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/ryanair-uk-terms-and-conditions0)
S
Swiss International Air Lines | Switzerland
Pets & Live Animals – At Swiss International Air Lines – and at Swiss WorldCargo – we dissociate ourselves from the transportation of live animals for research; in fact, SWISS does not accept any live animals destined for research for transport on any of its routes except live mice and live rats. Swiss WorldCargo complies with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) when it comes to the transportation of animals and has a ban in place on animal trophies as per CITES Appendix I (see http://www.cites.org/). A ban on ivory has already been in place for some time. In order to further help eliminate illegal trade and transportation of hunting trophies and save wildlife heritage, since 1 June 2015, we have extended the ban to the transportation of lion trophies as well as lion bones and body parts (CITES Appendix II). SWISS hopes these bans will finally contribute to stopping this cruel practice. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.swissworldcargo.com/en/pets_live_animals)
Swiss WorldCargo | Switzerland *
Pets & Live Animals – At Swiss International Air Lines – and at Swiss WorldCargo – we dissociate ourselves from the transportation of live animals for research; in fact, SWISS does not accept any live animals destined for research for transport on any of its routes except live mice and live rats. Swiss WorldCargo complies with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) when it comes to the transportation of animals and has a ban in place on animal trophies as per CITES Appendix I (see http://www.cites.org/). A ban on ivory has already been in place for some time. In order to further help eliminate illegal trade and transportation of hunting trophies and save wildlife heritage, since 1 June 2015, we have extended the ban to the transportation of lion trophies as well as lion bones and body parts (CITES Appendix II). SWISS hopes these bans will finally contribute to stopping this cruel practice. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.swissworldcargo.com/en/pets_live_animals)
T
TAP Air Cargo | Portugal *
Why choose TAP Air Cargo for the air transport of animals? – Since 2015, TAP has prohibited the shipment of animal trophies, laboratory animals, shark fins and any part of animals that appear on the list of “Endangered Animals”, as freight. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.tapcargo.com/en/products/air-transport-of-animals)
Transglobal Express | United Kingdom **
Dangerous, Hazardous & Prohibited Items: The following are Prohibited Items and are not accepted by any of our carriers: Animals & Animal Products: Includes Animal fur and skin, hunting trophies (including legally acquired), and other animal products. Last assessed 08/11/2023 (See https://www.transglobalexpress.co.uk/information/dangerous-and-hazardous/)
U
United Cargo | United States *
Rates, rules and regulations – Packing and labeling: United restricts the shipment of lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard or rhinoceros trophies as freight. United ships other trophies, following all U.S. domestic and international regulations, which prohibit the possession of trophies or other items associated with protected species. Last accessed March 30,2023. (See https://www.unitedcargo.com/en/us/learn/rules-and-regulations.html)
V
Virgin Atlantic Cargo | United Kingdom *
Cargo – We have an ethical carriage of cargo policy which outlines which products we can and cannot accept as cargo. For example. we will not carry any part of an animal which has been hunted for sport, for taxidermy purposes or for private collections or animals destined for circuses, zoos, wildlife parks and tourist attractions. Last accessed May 27, 2024. (See https://corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/business-for-good/planet.html)
Virgin Australia | Australia
Baggage – Oversized and fragile items: Hunting trophies/shark fins: Virgin Australia does not support the transportation of hunting trophies, endangered species or shark fins and therefore, does not transport these items. Last accessed April 19, 2023. (See https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/oversized-fragile-items/)
Volotea | Spain
6. Baggage – 6.2. Baggage restrictions:
The following may not be carried as baggage: Any hunting trophies or products of animal origin that are the result of hunting, including (parts of) animals, in checked-in luggage or carry-on baggage. This policy aims to safeguard wildlife from extinction and direct harm, reflecting Volotea’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact and its dedication to responsible practices. We do not transport cargo. Last accessed February 8, 2024. (See https://www.volotea.com/en/legal-conditions/conditions-of-carriage/)
W
WestJet | Canada
Fishing and hunting equipment: Restrictions – WestJet and WestJet Cargo do not accept endangered species or the remains from endangered species, as listed on Environment Canada’s website under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or trophies from any of the five big game animals (cape buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceros) transported from other countries. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/baggage/fishing-hunting)
WestJet Cargo | Canada *
Fishing and hunting equipment: Restrictions – WestJet and WestJet Cargo do not accept endangered species or the remains from endangered species, as listed on Environment Canada’s website under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or trophies from any of the five big game animals (cape buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceros) transported from other countries. Last accessed March 30, 2023. (See https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/baggage/fishing-hunting)
Our 2015 Trophy-Free Transport campaign
In 2015, HSI/HSUS had a successful campaign to raise awareness and urge action against the transport of hunting trophies aimed at the transportation industry. Cecil the lion was tragically killed in 2015 by a trophy hunter who let Cecil suffer for over 10 hours during the hunt. Following the public outcry and opportunity for action, we asked over 200 airlines to ban the transport of hunting trophies. More than 40 airlines announced or reaffirmed bans on hunting trophy shipments on their carriers. Unfortunately, since then, only a minority of transport companies have followed through on their 2015 public commitment to institute policies on their consumer websites. Consequently, Humane Society International is pushing many of these companies to follow through and institute policy changes.
Humane Society International / Europe
Trophy Hunting by the Numbers: The European Union’s role in global trophy hunting Import and Export of CITES listed species between 2014 and 2018
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Trophy-hunting-numbers-eu-report.pdf
Summary from Trophy Hunting by the Numbers report
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Summary_EU-Trophy-Hunting-by-Numbers-report-2.pdf
Overview translations Trophy Hunting by Numbers report
https://www.hsi.org/news-media/report-trophy-hunting-numbers-eu/
Factsheets about commonly hunted species (African leopard, African lion, Black rhino, European brown bear, European grey wolf, Giraffe
https://www.hsi.org/news-media/species-factsheets/
Poll in 2021 in five European countries (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain)
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/eu-trophy-hunting-poll.pdf
Joint position paper 160+NGOs
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Joint-NGO-position-on-trophy-hunting_final-Logos.pdf
For a revision of the trophy hunting regime in the European Union (Coalition report)
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/trophy-hunting-revision-report.pdf
Summary from Coalition report
https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/trophy-hunting-revision-report-summary.pdf
Humane Society International
WASHINGTON—This week, 34 dogs are arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport from South Korea where they were rescued from the dog meat industry by Humane Society International/Korea and its partners. Romeo, Nuri, Daisy, Phoenix, Brown Bear and the other dogs coming to the U.S. will be cared for at a care and rehabilitation center operated by HSI and the Humane Society of the United States. They will receive the love and comfort that the dog meat industry denied them, including beds, a nutritious diet, enrichment and veterinary care. Eventually they will be transferred to the HSUS’s shelter and rescue partners where they will be ready for adoption into loving homes.
Up to an estimated 1 million dogs a year are killed for meat in South Korea, intensively bred on farms where they are locked in barren, metal cages without water or proper food, living in squalid conditions, many suffering from malnutrition and painful skin and eye diseases. Most are brutally slaughtered at around one year of age, usually by electrocution.
Sangkyung Lee, dog meat campaigner for Humane Society International/Korea, said: “For these dogs flying to the United States, South Korea’s dog meat industry will soon be a distant memory. But hundreds of thousands of other dogs are still languishing in terrible conditions on dog meat farms for a meat that very few Koreans want to eat and most want banned. It’s now been one year since the South Korean government acknowledged the need for a dog meat task force, and we are still no closer to ending this cruel industry. The time for delay is over. We are urging relevant government ministries to proactively work towards ensuring the task force delivers a plan to end the suffering of all dogs living miserable lives on dog meat farms.”
Jeffrey Flocken, president of Humane Society International, said: “As a proud parent of a dog rescued in 2019 from the 15th farm Humane Society International helped transition out of dog meat industry, I know these dogs can become wonderful additions to a family. All these nearly three dozen dogs needed was the chance to be saved from the dog meat industry, and that was made possible by HSI’s fantastic teams and partners on-the-ground in South Korea and here in the United States.”
Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and CEO of Humane Society International, said: “It is a testament to the professionalism and
effectiveness of our staff and animal advocate partners in South Korea that local authorities there are working more frequently with us to help coordinate care for dogs saved from the meat trade. As these rescued dogs arrive in the United States and move into our rehabilitation center, we look forward to the next chapter: preparing them to be adopted into loving homes where they can finally enjoy life as all dogs should.”
As these dogs start new lives, Humane Society International will continue to campaign for an end to the dog meat industry. Since 2015, HSI/Korea’s Models for Change program has helped dog farmers in South Korea transition to new, more humane and profitable livelihoods such as chili plant and parsley growing or water truck delivery. HSI/Korea has permanently closed 17 dog meat farms and rescued more than 2,500 dogs who find adoptive homes in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a small number rehomed in South Korea.
An opinion survey by Nielsen Korea published and commissioned by HSI/Korea in October this year, shows that 85% of Koreans say they have never eaten dog meat or will not do so in the future. In addition, 56% of people said they support a dog meat ban.
Sodexo Canada has created the new, 100% plant-based eatery in collaboration with HSI/Canada’s Forward Food program, as part of Sodexo’s plant-based pledge
Humane Society International / Canada
MONTREAL—On this World Vegan Day, Sodexo Canada and Humane Society International/Canada are excited to announce another milestone in their national collaboration: the launch of Verde, a 100% plant-based dining concept. The first ever Verde location has just opened at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is being operated by Sodexo Canada.
“Our new Verde offer is a game changer in the food service industry where Sodexo Canada continues to commit itself to the well-being of its students and the planet through an innovative plant-based, plant-forward concept,” said Martin Lapointe, senior vice president of operations for Sodexo Campus.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity to grow our relationship with HSI by opening the first Verde location in Canada,” said Kyle Mason, senior manager culinary development for Sodexo Canada. “The increased demand for plant-based food has been dramatic over the past few years and HSI has supported us through this exciting transition. The training sessions have not only provided our chefs with the skills to add more plant-based items on their menu, but they’ve also become a networking opportunity where our chefs can connect and collaborate on ways to further increase the number of plant-based items on their menu.”
The introduction of Verde is part of Sodexo’s nationwide commitment to transition 20% of its protein purchases across Canada to plant-based by Dec. 31, 2024—a pledge made in conjunction with HSI/Canada’s Forward Food program last year. Forward Food works with leaders in the food service industry to make plant-based options more widely available, meeting consumer demand for more ethical, sustainable and nutritious food choices.
“We are overjoyed to see Verde come to life, making it easier for students and staff at Confederation College to enjoy plant-based meals,” said Riana Topan, senior campaign manager for HSI/Canada’s Forward Food program. “Working with Sodexo’s leadership on this initiative has been a dream and we are so proud of their progress to date in making more compassionate and environmentally friendly meals a bigger part of their menus.”
Sodexo and HSI/Canada began collaborating in 2018, and since that time they have co-hosted a series of plant-based training sessions for the food service management company’s culinary staff. A star participant in those trainings was Chef Leanne English, Sodexo’s national director of culinary experience for campus and the creative culinary mind behind Verde.
The concept’s initial offerings include dishes such as an avocado sushi bowl, black bean and sweet potato burrito, plant-based meatball sub and cheesy tofu scrambled toast. Chef English’s launch menu makes use of a wide variety of ingredients, from staples like chickpeas and quinoa, to dairy-free cheeses and a dark chocolate spread made from scratch.
Sodexo plans to open other Verde locations in the future, continuing to elevate the company’s plant-based menu options at their higher education, corporate services and energy and resource accounts in Canada. HSI/Canada and Sodexo Canada will also co-host their ninth culinary training session this month, and Sodexo Canada’s sustainability manager, Davide Del Brocco, will participate in a webinar hosted by HSI/Canada at the end of November.
The collaboration between Sodexo and Humane Society International spans across the globe, including in Singapore, Europe, United Kingdom and the United States. HSI commends Sodexo’s corporate social responsibility strategies that help people eat healthier, lighten their footprint on the environment and deliver on improved animal welfare standards across the food service industry.
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Media contacts:
Stephanie Aubin, director of communications, Sodexo Canada, email: stephanie.aubin@sodexo.com.
Riana Topan, senior campaign manager, HSI/Canada, cell: 438-882-7231, email: rtopan@hsi.org.
Humane Society International / Mexico
Aguascalientes, MEXICO—Humane Society International/Mexico provided relief to animals after a fuel tanker crash sparked a huge blaze in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The accident produced a giant fuel fire engulfing dozens of homes and sparking the evacuation of 1,500 people. Although thankfully no human lives were lost in the explosion, sadly 22 animals were killed by the fire and more than 100 more were impacted by the emergency.
HSI/Mexico’s team on the ground coordinated with local authorities to facilitate access to rescue pets whose owners had been evacuated to the emergency shelters, and to reunite them with their families. In addition, HSI/Mexico provided pet food, cages, dishes and other essentials so that animals were properly cared for. The organization also coordinated the help of the local veterinary association, other animal protection groups and government officials.
Over 100 pets were affected by the emergency, including 55 dogs, nine cats, 31 birds, one rabbit and 15 fish. Nearly 20 animals are currently being held in temporary shelters, while the rest have been reunited with their families.
Felipe Márquez, HSI/Mexico’s animal cruelty program manager, said: “It is heartbreaking to see people and animals suffering in a disaster such as this. These animals play a crucial role in the lives of the people affected by the explosion, who consider them members of their family. Safely reuniting people and pets at a time like this brings all concerned immense emotional comfort, so we are grateful to the Aguascalientes authorities for including animal protection in their disaster response and for coordinating with animal protection groups such as HSI/Mexico. The help we are able to provide is making the difference in a very dire situation for the people and animals affected by this terrible accident.”
HSI responds to disasters around the world to assist animals and communities in need. For example, in 2018, HSI stepped in to provide emergency treatment to dogs, cats, chickens, horses and other animals affected by the Volcan de Fuego eruptions in Guatemala, and in 2017 HSI helped more than 6,200 animals affected by deadly earthquakes in Mexico. Most recently, members of HSI/Mexico were deployed to Poland and Romania to assist HSI’s local team in helping refugees with pets who had escaped the war in Ukraine.
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U.S media contact: Melissa Smith: 231–360–7676, mmsmith@humanesociety.org
Humane Society International / United Kingdom
Fireworks can be fun for some, but terrifying and dangerous for others. Here is our advice for keeping companion animals and wildlife calm and safe during Bonfire Night and other festivities often celebrated with firework displays, such as Diwali and New Year’s Eve.
Fireworks might bring some colour to dark winter nights, but they can pose a real danger to animals. Both domestic and wild animals can find the thunderous sounds and flashing lights overwhelming and terrifying.
Pets may be so scared of fireworks that they shake in fear or become extremely agitated. Some get so frightened by the noise that they run away from otherwise familiar environments, and can even get injured or lost. Others become so stressed that they sadly suffer devastating or even fatal health effects.
And it’s not only dogs and cats who we need to think about—wildlife is affected, too. The sudden bright flashes and sounds can disturb wild animals and cause them to run into roads, resulting in traffic accidents. Birds can get disorientated by the loud explosions, with research showing that fireworks can cause flocks of birds to take off for prolonged periods of time, expending crucial energy, and even fly so far out to sea that they are too exhausted to make the return flight. Additionally the debris from fireworks, containing toxic materials, can be mistakenly consumed by wildlife or even fed to their young.
Here are our top tips to keep animals safe when there are fireworks, from Bonfire Night to beyond:
Fireworks advice for dogs and cats
- Walk dogs before dark, when it’s much less likely fireworks will be set off. It’s a good idea to keep them on-lead around dates such as Bonfire Night just in case.
- Keep pets safely indoors with you, making sure the windows and doors of your house are securely shut. Block any exits that animals could escape through, such as cat flaps. At the same time, ensure that your cat or dog has access to safe hiding space in your home if they want to, such as under a table.
- As well as closing windows, draw your curtains or blinds to reduce the lights and noise coming in from outside.
- Background noise can help to mask the sound of fireworks. Keep the TV on or try some calm music.
- Just like at all other times, dogs and cats should be wearing a collar and identification tag—even when they’re safely indoors. Some pets can become so scared during firework displays that they may take desperate measures to escape the noise, running outside when doors are briefly opened or even breaking through windows. You should also make sure your pet is microchipped and that the contact information on the chip is up to date.
- If needed, speak to your vet about medications that might help to reduce your pets’ anxiety. Calming jackets for cats and dogs, which provide a gentle pressure to alleviate stress, are also available.
Fireworks advice for small mammals such as rabbits and guinea pigs
- Bring any outdoor hutches inside for nights when fireworks are happening in your areas, and keep them in a quiet room with the windows and curtains shut.
- Provide extra bedding for pets to burrow in, to help them feel safe and secure.
Keeping wildlife and other animals safe on Bonfire Night
- Care should be taken not to let off fireworks near farmed animals or horses, as this may cause them to panic.
- If you have horses, check if there’s going to be any firework displays in your area and get in contact with the organisers to ask if they can set off the fireworks well away from where horses are kept, or to consider using low noise fireworks. Stay with your horse if you think fireworks are going to be let off nearby, and talk to your vet for advice in advance.
- Carefully check bonfires for wild animals such as hedgehogs before lighting them.
Take action to reduce the bangs
We agree with the RSPCA that tighter regulations are needed to restrict firework use, in order to reduce the number of bangs and unpredictability of when they occur. The Scottish government has already brought in extra controls and we urge other UK governments to follow their lead by:
- Introducing a licensing scheme for the purchase of fireworks, which would reduce sales and ensure that people buying and using fireworks are appropriately trained, preventing injuries to both people and animals.
- Shortening the period in which fireworks can be legally sold around Bonfire night. At present they can be sold from mid-October to mid-November, meaning weeks of unpredictably timed private displays. We’d like to see the sale window shortened to only one week before Bonfire night, similar to the shorter sale windows for New Year’s Eve and Diwali.
- The current legal noise limit for fireworks sold to the public is 120 decibels, a similar level to a plane taking off! We’d like to see this reduced to 90 dB.
You can show your support for tighter controls on fireworks by:
- Contacting your MP to let them know you are concerned about the animal welfare impacts of overly liberal firework laws, and signing government e-petitions to help get the issue debated in Parliament.
- Asking your local officials to use low noise fireworks for public displays, or even to try out a different type of celebration. Light displays using drones or lasers are a more eco-friendly alternative to fireworks.
“The IWC can be a powerful force in our fight for plastic-free oceans, which would benefit all marine life,” Humane Society International
Humane Society International / Europe
PORTOROŽ, Slovenia—Nations gathered at the 68th International Whaling Commission meeting in Slovenia have unanimously adopted a proposal to provide critical IWC support for international negotiations on a global plastics treaty. The treaty would tackle the serious threats to whales, dolphins and porpoises (as well as other marine animals) posed by plastics, including entanglement and ingestion, both of which can lead to injury and death. The proposal was put forward by the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, Panama and India.
Dr Madison Miketa, Humane Society International’s wildlife scientist, said: “Every year thousands of cetaceans are injured or killed by marine plastic pollution, whether it’s ingestion of marine debris, accumulation of micro-plastics, or entanglement in abandoned or lost fishing gear, which is also known as ghost gear. It is prolific and can remain in the ocean for hundreds of years, resulting in untold suffering and death. Marine debris can be mistaken as prey. For example, sperm whales mistake undulating plastic in the water for squid. So it’s really good news for whales that the IWC has adopted the EU’s resolution to support international negotiations on a global plastics treaty. The IWC can be a powerful force in our fight for plastic-free oceans, which would benefit all marine life.”
Some 13 million tonnes of plastic is estimated to enter the oceans each year, affecting approximately 68% of cetacean species. There are documented cases of plastic ingestion in at least 57 out of the 90 known cetacean species (63.3%) and ingestion of plastic has been recorded in all marine turtle species, and nearly half of all surveyed seabird and marine mammal species. Individuals who are not killed directly by ingestion of or entanglement in plastics, can still suffer secondary impacts such as malnutrition, restricted mobility and reduced reproduction or growth.
HSI’s whale experts at the IWC meeting are available for interviews.
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Media contact: Wendy Higgins, Director of International Media: whiggins@hsi.org
A Humane Society International event
Humane Society International
Note: This event has now passed, but you can watch the related video here.
Date: March 18, 2023
Location: Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Attend the event, either in person or online, and learn about the cage-free egg movement sweeping across the globe.
View the agenda
Learn more from our event poster
Register here.