Investing in developing countries is good, but not at the cost of animal welfare. A new report documents how European banks and credit agencies invest in agribusinesses that fail to meet the European Union's own standards for humane treatment of farm animals.
These agribusinesses confine pigs in tight sow crates, pack chickens into battery cages, and then export their farm products to the EU, bypassing animal welfare laws and hurting local farms trying to do the right thing.
The EU has made good progress in improving animal welfare standards within its member states' borders. Now let us work together to extend that policy to EU investments too.
Sign the petition to help us put an end to investments in animal suffering.
Dear [decision-makers],
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) grant investments to large-scale animal agribusinesses in developing and transition countries where those businesses fail to meet the European Union's own standards for humane treatment of farm animals.
These countries include China, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, and this money is used to support the establishment of animal housing systems that are outlawed by the EU.
These investments transplant objectionable practices from the EU to these other countries; creating a situation where animal suffering is rampant and where there is a competitive disadvantage for EU farmers who are required to meet higher welfare standards.
We, the undersigned, therefore urge:
* the IFC to include animal welfare standards in its EHS Guidelines
* the EBRD to support the development of animal welfare policy with the introduction of binding animal welfare criteria
Investment in developing and transition countries is a public good, but not at the cost of animal suffering.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
