animal welfare Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

Brussels Roundup – Stasis for Animals, Tightrope for new GMOs

December 8, 2023 Natasha Foote

Next week, all eyes are on two key votes which will steer the future direction of the EU’s plans to loosen the rules governing new GMOs (aka new genetic technologies, or NGTs). Meanwhile, the European Commission finally put forward a slimmed down version of its animal welfare ‘package’ and lawmakers decided to exempt cattle from its plans to slash industrial emissions. Natasha Foote brings you up to speed in the latest goings on and the fun to come in Brussels. […]

Leak – No Live Export Ban to non-EU Countries in Animal Welfare Overhaul

November 29, 2023 Natasha Foote

The European Commission will not ban the export of live animals to non-EU countries in its forthcoming proposal on the protection of animals during transport, according to a leaked draft, instead opting to double down on reduced journey times and on space allowances. Natasha Foote has the scoop. […]

A Frugal Farm to Fork – Update on Pesticides, new GMOs, Animal Welfare & Sustainable Food Systems

October 20, 2023 Natasha Foote

No progress for the Sustainable Food System Law and only the transport aspect of the animal welfare legislation surviving. Some progress is being made to move the SUR – Sustainable Use of Pesticides regulation – on, though member states and the environment committee in the Parliament may be pushing in opposite directions. And somehow, Parliament is finding time to really push hard and fast for new GMO’s. […]

Šefčovič’s First Green Dealing Fails to Impress

October 4, 2023 Natasha Foote

European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič’s pitch to take over as Green Deal chief has fallen flat after failing to answer MEPs calls for details and timelines of the core sustainability files still missing in action. The Sustainable Food Systems Law and Animal Welfare legislation overhaul came in for particular attention. Natasha Foote reports. […]

EU Green Deal – How are the Agri Elements Progressing?

October 1, 2023 Natasha Foote

With a number of key agrifood files missing-in-action or still jumping through legislative hoops as EU elections loom, the coming months will be the defining moment for the legacy of the Green Deal, the EU’s flagship policy for environmental sustainability. […]

Weaker Eco-Schemes and Pet Projects – Commission Factsheet Unpacked

January 19, 2021 Oliver Moore

With trilogues in progress behind unacceptably closed doors, the Commission has released another document on eco-schemes. While it’s a good sign that the Commission is still in the game there are some curious pet projects appearing. Oliver Moore unpacks some details. […]

UK | Chapter 5: Enhancing Farm Animal Welfare

June 24, 2019 Stuart Meikle

Brexit is coming at a time when there is probably more consumer awareness of animal welfare than ever before. There should be no question of British animal-welfare standards changing with the UK leaving the EU. […]

UK | A Bumpy Ride for the New Agriculture Bill

January 23, 2019 Vicki Hird

In all likelihood, the UK will leave the European Union. In place of the CAP, it has drafted a new Agriculture Bill which is passing through parliament at the moment. What does this bill look like? What are the implications? What further amendments are needed? Vicki Hird talks us through the details. […]

Post-Brexit Food, Farming and Fair Trade | Environment and Animal Welfare

August 6, 2018 Sharon Anglin Treat

What are the implications of the new Brexit plan on UK and EU food and farming? In this second part, Sharon Treat from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) talks us through inadequate environmental and animal welfare protection as well as weakened biotechnology regulations. […]

The new German Government’s Agri-Food Plans – Flattering to Deceive?

March 15, 2018 Sebastian Lakner

Sebastian Lakner examines what the new German coalition government has in store for agricultural and rural policy – is it a coherent document, or simply all things to all people? […]

Part 1 “Pour une autre PAC” – the French CAP Platform

January 17, 2018 Aurélie Catallo

The platform Pour une autre PAC (For Another Common Agricultural Policy) is a French inter-association body created for a common reflection and action regarding the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. In this exclusive for ARC2020, platform coordinator Auréile Catallo introduces its history, its composition and its functioning. […]

After the #AfterCAP Debate | Where Now ?

February 14, 2017 ARC

Wrapping up this third curated debate, we in ARC2020 begin to draw elements of a road map for how the Common Agricultural Policy could evolve. The timing is perfect – the European Commission has recently launched a consultation on modernisation and simplification of the CAP. Let’s use this #AfterCAP debate as a springboard to delve deeper into Europe’s agri-food and rural policies. […]

#AfterCAP | COPA Need to Move Beyond “Productivist Paradigm”

December 20, 2016 Olga Kikou

By embracing the productivist paradigm of producing more food to feed a rapidly growing population, Copa Cogeca’s vision for the future CAP ensures that crises in EU’s agriculture sector will persist in the future, argues Olga Kikou. […]

Challenging CETA’s Ratification

December 14, 2016 Peter Crosskey

Non-government organisations on both sides of the Atlantic are restating their arguments against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. In the first section of a two-part report from the Paris leg of a CETA and TTIP European Tour by experts, ARC2020 looks at the warnings given by the Council of Canadians. […]

#AfterCAP | Towards an Integrated Food & Farming Policy with an Animal Welfare Focus

November 28, 2016 Olga Kikou

Livestock plays a central role in the CAP, but there are numerous areas of concern. While the public are interested in better animal welfare standards, policies lead to overproduction of grain and an abundance of cheap livestock products with all the sustainability issues this carries. […]