4 October – World Animal Day
Protecting animals does not end with rescuing an individual animal. It requires laws. It requires enforcement. It requires traceability. And it requires voices that persist wherever decisions are being made.
The Panhellenic Equine Welfare Society IPPOTHESIS was particularly pleased to contribute to an important new report by the Belgian animal protection organization GAIA https://www.gaia.be/en on horse meat in Europe, providing information and expertise on the Greek legal framework and the situation of equids in Greece.
GAIA’s research takes a comprehensive approach, connecting equine welfare with traceability, transport, consumer protection, documented fraud and the need for stronger legal protection.
The Greek legislative precedent also holds an important place in this comparative discussion: in Greece, the breeding, export and use of equids for meat production are prohibited a significant legislative achievement for which IPPOTHESIS worked systematically.
But protecting equids does not end with a prohibition.
It requires reliable identification and traceability, effective controls, proper enforcement of existing legislation and a comprehensive legal framework capable of protecting equids throughout their lives.
As we chose to say in support of GAIA’s campaign:
“Greece has shown that protecting equids from meat production is possible. Now we need to go further. Equids deserve protection and traceability throughout their lives not a final destination in the human food chain.”
We congratulate GAIA on this excellent initiative and thank them for their trust and for giving IPPOTHESIS the opportunity to contribute to research that opens an important discussion about the future of equine protection in Europe.
From rescuing an individual animal to standing in a courtroom.From changing a law to advocating at European level.Protecting equids requires us to be present at every level.
And if we are to continue being there wherever equids need a voice, we also need your support.
The report and campaign materials are shared with credit to and the kind permission of GAIA. https://www.gaia.be/en/news/horse-meat-snacks-3-4-friteries-belgium
As part of this of this campaign, GAIA is calling on the public to support its demand by signing the petition to permanently remove equines from the food chain:
