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Support from Brussels for the ban on the export of live animals in Colombia

This week, Green Party MEP Tilly Metz, president of the European Parliament’s Animal Welfare and Conservation Intergroup, expressed her support for a possible ban on live exports in Colombia.

Through a message published on social media, the Luxembourg MEP expressed great enthusiasm for the Bill currently being discussed in the Colombian Congress. MEP Metz was emphatic about the need for both Colombia and the European Union to vote in favour of the ban on the export of live animals.

The European Union could be responsible for up to 80% of the world trade in live farm animals, with Spain being the main exporter of sheep to the Middle East and North Africa.

However, some countries have started making progress towards the walfare of farmed animals, such as Luxembourg, which earlier this year banned the practice, as well as New Zealand, which will ban live animal exports from April 2023. The Netherlands, will not approve exports to non-EU countries when animal welfare cannot be guaranteed and some German federal states such as Hessen, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Saxony and Lower Saxony, have also been adhering to the initiative.

If the Bill that progressively prohibits the maritime export of live animals for consumption purposes, led by animal rights senator Andrea Padilla, is approved, Colombia would join these countries and position itself as a leader in animal welfare in the region.

SOS Animals Colombia joins the call of MEP Tilly Metz and invites the Colombian congressmen and women and the national government to support the prohibition of this cruel and unnecessary practice in Colombia.

Learn more about the SOS Animals Colombia campaign here.

New Zealand bans live animal exports, Colombia should follow

“New Zealand’s remoteness means animals are at sea for extended periods, heightening their susceptibility to heat stress and other welfare-associated risks” said the minister of agriculture, Damien O’Connor.

Switzerland: more than a million citizens voted in favor of the ban on extensive livestock farming

From SOS Animals Colombia we celebrate the 1,062,674 million Swiss citizens who voted yesterday in favour of the environment, animals and public health and we count on initiatives like these to continue supporting the necessary transformation of agriculture worldwide

Traditional bullfighting spectacle is replaced by a book fair in a Caribbean Coast town of Colombia

The local festivity in Santo Tomás, Colombia were traditionally celebrated with religious activities, parades and bullfights, but since this year and thanks to the decision of the Mayor of the city ” the corralejas”, a cruel spectacle that uses bulls and horses, was replaced by a book fair.

The European Union moves forward against deforestation

Beef, pork, sheep, goat, poultry, corn, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybeans, wood, charcoal, and printed paper, including products that contain, have been fed, or have been manufactured with these basic products (such as leather, chocolate and furniture) that come from deforested areas will not be able to enter the European Union market.

Why are manatees dying in Colombia?

Caribbean manatee and the Amazonian manatee are at risk due to incidental fishing, pollution, drought due to the hoarding of water by monoculture and livestock companies, the loss and fragmentation of their habitats, indiscriminate hunting for the consumption of their meat and entanglement with trammel nets or fishing gear.

SOS Animals launched a campaign against live export of animals

“We need to put an end to this practice that inflict tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering and death on animals and Colombia should take the lead in the region” says Cecilia Angulo, SOS Animals’ founder.

165 stray dogs per square kilometer in Bogotá: Report

In an investigation of almost two years carried out in 19 of the 20 localities of Bogotá, the District Institute for Animal Protection and Welfare (IDPYBA) characterized for the first time the abundance and population density of roaming dogs in the capital.

International campaign seeks to put carbon taxes on meat to tackle climate change

At SOS Animals Colombia we support these initiatives that seek a better future for all and we urge the incoming government to adopt this proposal as one of the measures to mitigate climate change, prevent a food crisis and ensure the protection of biodiversity in our country.

Colombia will have a Animal Protection and Welfare National Policy

After three years of delaying its approval, the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development approved the National Animal Protection and Welfare Public Policy.

The public policy, approved at the end of July was promoted and drafted by animal welfare politicians Juan Carlos Losada, and Andrea Padilla and had the support of different stakeholders and animal rights activists.

This policy seeks to strengthen institutional management to guarantee the protection and welfare of farm animals, street animals, animals used in laboratories, and wild species victims of illegal trafficking, among others. In addition, it establishes strategies and programs for training in responsible ownership, awareness campaigns, sterilization, creation of territorial welfare centres, rehabilitation and comprehensive assistance for wildlife and replacement of animal-drawn vehicles.

“There are now four important challenges for the National Government with this policy. First, define who will execute and evaluate, second, the articulation between entities of the national order, third, the municipal mandate (…) and fourth point, already with this National Policy, the Government in its Development Plan will have to reserve financial resources for its implementation”, highlighted animal welfare senator, Andrea Padilla, on her Twitter account.

This policy will help strengthen the Law on Environmental Crimes, which punishes the trafficking of Colombian wild species with up to 12 years in prison, The Decree that regulates the sustainable management of wild flora and non-timber forest products, measures that, together with the Climate Action Law, represent the Ministry’s strategy to protect, conserve and restore ecosystems in the regions.

From SOS Animals Colombia we celebrate this historic achievement for the animals in our country.

The full text is available in Spanish here.