European Elections June 4th 2009
Learn more about some of the animal welfare issues that have been tackled by the European Parliament in recent years.
The European Union can make laws over the way animals are used in research and farming
Some 320 million animals are transported across Europe every year
The ban on the use of battery cages from 2012 was a law introduced in the EU
European law recognise animals as sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and suffering
In response to a declaration by MEPs in 2006 calling for a ban on the import of products made from seal fur, such a ban has now been introduced
The European Union banned the import of wild caught birds in July 2007, ending the suffering of birds captured across the globe to be sold in European countries
A ban on the use of animals to test new cosmetics came into force this year
The export of live cattle outside of the EU is no longer subsidised
New regulations have been introduced which set minimum standards for the breeding of chickens for meat
There are also EU laws protecting the use of animals in zoos
