Revelations about the scale and conditions of rabbit farming in Europe triggered biggest ever online response
This week Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) delivered its biggest ever online petition to a meeting of European Agriculture Ministers in Brussels.
Sustain member CIWF was joined by an army of cartoon rabbits for the occasion, as the purpose of the petition was to protest against the inhumane treatment of farmed rabbits. Rabbits are the second most numerous farmed animals in Europe, with more than 300 million currently slaughtered every year, the majority having been raised in barren cages.
CIWF is grateful to all 601,435 people who signed the petition, and report that it already is having an impact. The German MEP Stefan Eck is writing a report calling on the European Commission to draft legislation on the welfare of rabbits. The report is likely to be discussed in the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament in September, and be voted on by all MEPs in late 2016 or early 2017.
Read more about Sustain's campaign work for a more human food supply here.
Published Friday 27 May 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
