news & updates

Please find news, upcoming events, and activities below.

Animal Law

The Factory Farming Lobby Uses the Same Tactics as the Tobacco and Fossil Fuel Industries

Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) was quoted in this piece by Yle (in Finnish) about how industrial farming lobbies have stalled cage-free reforms in EU law.

Egg laying hens in cages on a factory farm

Institute’s Executive Director Appointed to the French National Ethics Committee on Animal Experimentation

Over the course of her five-year mandate, Alice Di Concetto will play a key role in ensuring that the interests of animals are properly represented in discussions regarding their use in scientific research, as mandated in Directive 2010/63 on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes.

Beagle dog behind a fence in a laboratory

Farewell to Commissioner Stella Kyriakides

Our Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, thanked Commissioner Kyriakides for her commitment to animal welfare in a op-ed published in The Brussels Times. “We hope her successor will recognize the critical importance of animal protection,” said Olga.

Commissioner Kyriakides and Olga Kikou standing side by side before the EU flag

Hungarian Presidency Proposes Temperature Monitoring in New Animal Transport Rules

Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) was quoted in this piece by Euractiv about the proposal for a new regulation on the transport of animals. Olga cautioned against the use of vague wording that might undermine animal protection goals.

Roundtable – Animals in Law & Economics

Alice Di Concetto (Chief Legal Adviser) will present on animals and business law at a roundtable on Animals and Law & Economics, at the annual conference of the French Association for Law and Economics, in Paris. The conference will take place in Paris. All presentations will be in English.

Campus Paris II Panthéon Assas

New Animal Law Book in Czech

Gabriela Kubíková, Ph.D (Policy Adviser) published her first book on the welfare of farmed animals in EU law with Wolters Kluwer, in Czech (Dobré životní podmínky hospodářských zvířat v právu Evropské unie).

Animal Welfare Food Community Japan Webinar

The Institute’s Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, will present at a webinar organized by Animal Welfare Food Community Japan, on October 31st. Olga will discuss prospective changes for farmed animals under the new European Commission.

Poster of the webinar in Japan

Industry Lobbying Revealed: Animal Welfare Science Under Siege

Today, 27 newly released documents shed light on the significant pushback from industry lobbyists against recent advancements in animal welfare science. These papers challenge the latest scientific opinions issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

We’re Hiring a Communications Specialist

If you have 3+ years of experience, excellent verbal and written communications skills, a passion for animal protection, and event organization skills, we would be delighted to hear from you. For more information, please read our full job announcement. Applications are due by November 8th, 2024.

Picture of a laptop with a mug of coffee

UIA Webinar on International Laws Impacting Farmed Animals

Join us on October 11th for a webinar organized by the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA). Alice Di Concetto, our Chief Legal Adviser, will present on the laws affecting farmed animals in France and the EU.

Image of seats in an auditorium, with a screen in the background

Special Ocean Week Webinar: Uniting to End Whaling

In honor of Ocean Week, we are excited to announce an upcoming webinar hosted by the Stop The Grind Coalition, we’re co-organizing with Sea Shepherd Global, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation on October 4th. This webinar will feature Alice Di Concetto, our Chief Legal Adviser, who will present on “Developing Supportive Policies and Regulations to End Whaling in Europe.”

How Big Ag Uses Farmers to Influence European Democracies

In this blog post for Faunalytics, Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) takes a deep dive into recent media investigations revelations about how industrial farming lobbies have stalled legal reforms for animals.

Picture of a cow in a barn

Nordic Animal Law: Welfare and Rights

Alice Di Concetto (Executive Director and Chief Legal Adviser) authored a chapter on EU Animal Law in the newly-published book “Nordic Animal Law: Welfare and Rights” (Ethics Press, 2024). This book provides an overview of animal protection laws in the Nordic countries, and is now available for purchase (hardcopies and e-book).

Book cover with the following information: Title: Nordic Animal Law: Welfare and Rights Authors: Birgitta Wahlberg, Vegard Bo Bahus, Sacha Lucassen, Alice DiConcetto, Tero Kirvinen, Tarja Koskela, Visa Kurki, Veera Koponen, Sunniva Brago-Ellenes, and Olivia Palenius.

Commission Urged to Embrace Consensus on Future of Farming

Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) was quoted in this piece by ENDS Europe on the European Commission’s Report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.

Tête d'un cochon dans un pré en contre-jour

New Report Augurs Further Delay of the Promised EU Animal Welfare Revolution

The European Commission’s special advisory group on agriculture has pushed for further delays in the revision of the EU animal welfare laws in their new report, published today, 4 September 2024. This jeopardizes the EU’s ambitions to update the current legislation.

The Institute at the 2024 CARE Conference

On September 14th, the Institute’s Director of Advocacy Olga Kikou will be in Warsaw, Poland to speak at this year’s Conference on Animal Rights in Europe (CARE) Conference organized by Anima International. Olga will discuss the factors accounting for the blocking of the revision of EU farm animal welfare legislation.

Care Conference logo with a chick and a speech bubble, on a turquoise background

Dutch Association of Animal Rights Law’s Webinar on EU Animal Law

Our Chief Legal Adviser, Alice Di Concetto, will present on the recent developments in EU animal law at a webinar organized by the Dutch Association of Animal Rights Law on September 25th, 7–8:30pm (CET). In Dutch and English.

Image of seats in an auditorium, with a screen in the background

Is It Time for a Just Food Transition in the EU?

Olga Kikou (Director of Advocacy) was interviewed on the European Vegan Summit’s podcast “EVS Talks.” In this episode, Olga provided an analysis of the new political dynamics in the European Parliament and what it means for animals.

EVA Talk – Presentation Card

What Can the European Union Do to Stop the Grind?

In this blog post published on the “Stop the Grind” website, Alice Di Concetto (Chief Legal Adviser), presents how the substantial support the Faroe Islands receive from the EU represents a potential leverage point that the EU could use to halt the Grind.

NGOs Pressure Commission to Include Animal Welfare in Future of Farming

Our Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, was quoted in an article by Euractiv on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s “Vision for Agriculture and Food.”

The Missing Commissioner in Von der Leyen’s Second Commission

Our Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, was quoted in The Brussels Times on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s speech to the European Parliament.

European Commission with EU flags

Sustainability in the World of Fashion

Our Chief Legal Adviser, Alice Di Concetto, will present on the rules pertaining to the protection of animals used in the fashion industry at the Union Internationale des Avocats’s conference on September 6th – 7th, in Milan, Italy.

A white fox at a fur farm

Ukraine’s EU Accession Provides Chance to Transform Animal Welfare

Our Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, was quoted in an article by Food Ingredients First on the potentially positive effect Ukraine’s membership to the EU could represent for animals.

Young protesters with Ukrainian flag in Ukraine

The Global Impact of Animals and the Law

Our Chief Legal Adviser, Alice Di Concetto, will present on the intersections between human rights and animal rights at the Union Internationale des Avocats’s conference on July 20th, in New York City.

Sustainability, Public Health, and Animal Welfare in Europe

Alice Di Concetto (Director) and Gabriela Kubíková (Policy Adviser) will present on animals in EU law at the University of Liverpool’s conference “Sustainability, Public Health and Animal Welfare” on June 6th.

Sorbonne Doctoral Review Colloquium

Alice Di Concetto (Director and Chief Legal Adviser) will present on EU animal law at the Sorbonne Doctoral Review conference on May 28th in Paris, France.

After UK ban on live animal exports, NGOs step up pressure on the European Commission

Our Director of Advocacy, Olga Kikou, was quoted in this article by Euractiv, in reaction to the UK ban on the transport of live animals.

The Institute Joins the “Stop the Grind” Coalition

The Institute became a member of the Stop the Grind coalition, joining forces with Sea Shepherd and other animal protection organizations to end the practice of cetacean killing in the Faroe Islands.

Stop the Grind coalition logo with corpses of cetaceans in bloody waters in the background.

Special Event – Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food Systems Post-2024 EU Elections

Together with the Jeremy Coller Foundation, the European Institute for Animal Law & Policy organized an event on March 14th, in Brussels. The event gathered more than 50 participants in the EU animal law and policy space, and facilitated a fruitful discussion about lessons learned in 2023, and future opportunities to achieve a more just food system in the EU. At this occasion, the Institute and the Coller Foundation produced a poster providing an overview of the implementation of the European Green Deal measures, including those related to farm animal protection.

The Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in EU Animal Agriculture

Alice Di Concetto presented on the topic of “The Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in EU Animal Agriculture: Moving Away from a Sectoral Regulatory Approach” at a symposium organized by the University of Tilburg, on the topic of “Reducing Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Role of Law.” The symposium took place in Amsterdam on December 7th.

Beef factory farms from above, with feedlots on the left and a manure lagoon on the right.

The Legality of the Grind Hunt

At an event organized by “Stop the Grind” Coalition in the European Parliament on November 30th, Alice Di Concetto provided a detailed analysis of the legal framework allowing the traditional slaughter of pilot whales and dolphins to take place in the Faroe Islands. This report includes a recap of our newsletters, media appearances, and our […]

Body of a slaughtered dolphin on the beach, surrounded by bloody waters.

EU-Mercosur Deal Killed Animal Welfare Law

The Institute’s Chief Legal Adviser, Alice Di Concetto, was quoted in this piece published in EU Observer about the revision of EU farm animal welfare laws.

The Treatment of Wild-Caught Fish Under EU Conservation Law

Alice Di Concetto (Chief Legal Advisor) and Pauline Koczorowski (Lawyer) published an adaption of the Institute’s Research Note on the treatment of wild-caught fish in the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) newsletter.

School of fish in the wild

5th Summer Shoal on Fish Welfare

Alice Di Concetto presented on the topic of “Fish Welfare Goals and Standards in EU Policies” at the 5th Summer Shoal on Fish Welfare, which took place on September 23rd – 24th in Pedras d’El Rei, Portugal. This event was organized by Fair Fish International.

Trouts in freshwater

Research Note – The Treatment of Wild-Caught Fish Under EU Law

This Research Note, co-authored by Alice Di Concetto and Pauline Koczorowski, provides an overview of the EU legislative acts relevant to the treatment of wild-caught fish. This Note further lists recent legislative and legal developments, as well as reform proposals to achieve a more humane treatment of aquatic animals living in the sea.

Wild fish caught in nets

Bogus Agricultural Industry Research Threatens to Keep Animals Caged

Olga Kikou (CIWF EU) and Alice Di Concetto (The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy) published an op-ed in the Brussels Times. In it, they denounce the fact that the Big Agriculture lobby is banking on junk science to thwart progress.

Calf sitting in tall grass

2023 Helsinki Animal Law Center Conference

Alice Di Concetto presented on the topic of “Science-Based Animal Welfare Legislation” at the Helsinki Animal Law Center Conference, which took place on June 12th – 14th in Helsinki, Finland. This report includes a recap of our newsletters, media appearances, and our plans for the upcoming year. As we reflect upon our first year, and […]

Picture of the Helsinki cathedral

Future of Food Conference

Alice Di Concetto presented on the topic of “Animals in the Future of EU Food Law” at the annual Future of Food Law Conference organized by Wageningen Research & University, in Wageningen (Netherlands), on May 26th. This report includes a recap of our newsletters, media appearances, and our plans for the upcoming year. As we […]

Image of seats in an auditorium, with a screen in the background

EU Consumer Information as a Tool to Regulate the Treatment of Farm Animals

The Institute’s founder, Alice Di Concetto, co-authored a law review article with Prof. Aude-Solveig Epstein, entitled “EU Consumer Information as a Tool to Regulate the Treatment of Farm Animals: Potential and Limits.” The article was published in the European Journal of Consumer Law (2023/1).

Farm Animal Welfare and Food Information for European Union Consumers

The Institute’s founder, Alice Di Concetto, published a law review article entitled “Farm Animal Welfare and Food Information for European Union Consumers: Harmonising the Regulatory Framework for More Policy Coherence” in the European Journal of Risk Regulation, 2023.

books with eu logo

White Paper – Chick and Duckling Killing: Achieving an EU-Wide Prohibition

Every year, 330 million day-old chicks are killed in the EU. Yet, solutions exist to the systematic killing of day-old poultry animals. Read our latest White Paper, published in collaboration with L214, to find out about solutions to achieve a prohibition on the killing of chicks in EU law.

Day old female chicks wait to be vaccinated before being shipped to a poultry farm for the next phase of production.

The Unjustified Mass Killing of Baby Chicks Must End

Alice Di Concetto, Brigitte Gothière (L214), Olga Kikou (CIWF EU), Jo Swabe (HSI/Europe), Joe Moran (Four Paws), and Alina Puiu (F.R.E.E.) published an op-ed in the Brussels Times. In it, they call for the end of the systematic killing of chicks and ducklings in EU law.

Baby chickens in an infoor farm gathered around a feeder

Special Event – Chick and Duckling Killing: Achieving an EU-Wide Prohibition

Together with L214, the European Institute for Animal Law & Policy organized an event on January 10th, in the European Parliament, to raise awareness on the practice of male chick and female duckling killing in the egg and foie gras industries and to call for an EU-wide prohibition of such a practice.

Is it Time to Stop Keeping Animals in Captivity?

Alice Di Concetto was quoted in an op-ed by Christopher McJetters published in Euronews. “Alice Di Concetto is a legal adviser at the European Institute for Animal Law & Policy. She says that legislation for protecting these animals is paper thin, literally.”

Group of people standing in front of an aquairum

EU Court of Justice Restricts the Trade of Wild Animals Originating from Illegal Imports

On 8 September 2022, the Court of Justice sided with the Czech Ministry of the Environment in deciding that an exotic animal breeder did not have the right to trade parrots who were the second-generation offspring of illegally imported birds. Read an analysis of this historic ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU […]

blue perroquet of the hyacinth macaw breed

Switzerland Could Be the First Country to Ban Factory Farming – Time Magazine

The Institute was quoted in Time Magazine: “In fact, notes Alice Di Concetto, founder of the European Institute for Animal Law and Policy, the European Commission is taking the opportunity of the cage proposal “to revise all EU farm animal welfare legislation. So there are other measures that hopefully will be included,” like chick grinding […]

International Law and Its Effects on EU Farm Animal Welfare Legislation

Read Alice Di Concetto’s latest law review article, “International Law and Its Effects on EU Farm Animal Welfare Legislation,” in the Global Journal of Animal Law. In it, she looks at the influence of the Council of Europe’s conventions, WTO rules, and the Paris Agreement on the making of EU farm animal legislation.

For a More Humane Union – Event’s Summary

The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) EU presented a webinar on EU farm animal welfare legislation on March 1st. The event was co-hosted by three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs): Anja Hazekamp (GUE/NGL, NL), Sylwia Spurek (The Greens, PL), and Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe, SK). MEP […]

Report and Event: For a More Humane Union, A Legal Assessment of EU Farm Animal Welfare Laws

Our report “For a More Humane Union” is out now! This report is the first-of-its-kind comprehensive legal review of EU farm animal welfare legislation, in preparation of its revision in the coming years.

rabbits in a plastic crate

Reducing Antibiotic Use by Improving Animal Welfare – Guidance Document

The Institute collaborated with Four Paws International on the production of a Guidance Document to improve compliance with new EU rules on antimicrobials use through enhanced farm animal welfare standards. With contributions by Alice Di Concetto, LL.M, Dr. Paul Llonch, Dr. Eva Mainau, Dr. Xavier Manteca, and Dr. Deborah Temple.

Cow head with horns on a field

Police Struggle to Enforce Animal Protection Laws —Here’s Why – Sentient Media

Alice Di Concetto was quoted in this article by Sophie Kevany. In this article, Alice explains the extent to which enforcement mechanisms of EU animal welfare rules under the form of reduced subsidies are largely ineffective.

How ‘Landless’ Pig Farms Break Animal Welfare Rules and Get Away With It – Sentient Media

Alice Di Concetto was quoted in this article by Sophie Kevany. In this article, Alice explains the extent to which enforcement mechanisms of EU animal welfare rules under the form of reduced subsidies are largely ineffective.

Two sows looking at the camera

30 Years After EU Pig Welfare Legislation, Will the EU Finally Step up to Protect Pigs? – The Brussels Times

Alice Di Concetto and Olga Kikou (CIWF EU) published an op-ed in the Brussels Times. In it, they call for an ambitious reform of EU animal welfare legislation for pigs.

Group of young pigs kept indoor

5 Things to Know About Animal Law – Ctrl Alt Meat Podcast

Alice Di Concetto was invited to speak at the Ctrl Alt Meat Podcast to discuss the fundamentals of animal law.

Coller foundation - ctrl al meat with logo of a cpw

Why Policy is Impeding our Transition to a Sustainable Food Future – Politics.co.uk

An op-ed by by Elliot Teperman (Jeremy Coller Foundation) and Alice Di Concetto in support of more coherent policy-making.

screenshot of the politics.co.uk website with title: why policy is impeding our transition to a sustainable food future

2021 Animal Law Conference

Alice Di Concetto spoke about the animals in the European Green Deal at the 2021 Animal Law Conference. Read the abstract. Watch the videos on demand.

Female koala with her offspring

Coller Animal Law Forum Launch Event

The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy collaborated with the Jeremy Coller Foundation to build Coller Animal Law Forum, which launched on October 14th. The Coller Animal Law an interactive database that collates and analyses various laws and policies that impact farmed animals.

Launch event poster for the Coller Animal Law Forum

Advocates for Animals Talks to…

Alice Di Concetto was invited by Advocates for Animals, a law firm based in London, UK specializing in animal law. She discussed the creation of Animal Law Europe, the consultancy firm which resulted into the creation of the European Institute for Animal Law & Policy. The event was moderated by Alice Collinson, a solicitor at Advocates […]

Afa Talks to... Alice Di Concetto Poster

The Future of Animal Rights – Reflections from the University

Panel: The Voices of Europe on Interspecies Ethics Alice Di Concetto was invited to speak at a panel moderated by the Minister of the Universities of Spain, Dr Manuel Castells, with Núria Almiron (Professor in Communications, University Pompeu Fabra’s Center for Animal Ethics), and Pim Martens (Professor in Sustainable Development, University of Maastricht). The event […]

four person panel in front of a crowd

Canadian Animal Law Conference

Alice Di Concetto was invited to the Canadian Animal Law Conference to present on the revision of EU farm animal welfare legislation.

conference room

The Worst Horrors of Factory Farming Could Soon Be Phased out in Europe – Vox.com

Alice Di Concetto was quoted in an article by Jonathan Moens published in Vox.com. In it, she commented on the low animal welfare standards in EU legislation and the limitations of the European Commission’s enforcement powers.

Egg laying hens in cages on a factory farm

Alice Di Concetto Nominated Global Ambassador for Animal Law

Along with seven animal law scholars and advocates from around the world, Alice Di Concetto was nominated a Global Ambassador for animal law by the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School.

Lion

UK Animal Law Conference

Alice Di Concetto was invited to present at the 2021 UK Animal Law Conference, organized by the UK Center for Animal Law (A-Law). She discussed the recent developments in EU farm animal welfare legislation and prospective change as a result of the European Green Deal.

A Law Conference poster with reptile

Solidarity with Animals Conference

Alice Di Concetto was invited at the Solidarity with Animals Conference 2021 to present on the Pitfalls and Potentials of Solidarity in Animal Activism.

Association of American Law Schools’ 2021 Annual Meeting

Alice Di Concetto was selected to speak at the 2021 AALS Annual Meeting, where she presented on the recent animal welfare legislation reforms in the EU.

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