Making Tracks

Animal protection from your Green Party MEPs: Jean Lambert, Keith Taylor and Molly Scott Cato — Spring 2016 Making Tracks

EU exit would be a Greens welcome call to disaster for animals, reduce use of antibiotics Greens have welcomed good farm hygiene is key say Green MEPs a recent report, to animal health and have commissioned by David successfully argued for a Cameron, which calls for number of measures to the use of antibiotics in be included in proposed agriculture to be cut back legislative changes. These or even, in critical cases, include living conditions banned. This reaffirms that respect behavioural changes in policy that needs; keeping stocking Greens in the European densities to levels which do Parliament have been not increase risk of disease; campaigning for. Greens and isolation of sick animals. have called for an end to Ahead of the EU referendum, suspended the use of toxic the use of antibiotics as a Molly said: the UK’s Green MEPs are bee-killing pesticides. routine preventive measure “We need to ensure that highlighting the importance as it is leading to resistance, human and animal health is of the European Union for Molly, a member of the with serious implications put before the interests and animal protection. European Parliament for human and animal profits of industrial scale Agriculture Committee, health. Greens argue that farming.” Keith who is Green Party drew attention to EU bans Animals spokesperson, said: on cruel factory farming “The importance of EU practices: The return of the mountain laws for animals cannot be “The EU prohibited the use of hare? overstated. I want Britain sow stalls and barren battery with unsuitable to remain a part of the EU cages for hens. We need deciduous forest. because I believe that to go further, but the EU’s However, farming we achieve more when record is a strong one and activities destroyed we work together on the mustn’t be taken for granted.” shared challenges we most of the forests, face. For Europe’s animals, Keith Taylor concluded: with just three ancient relics now this has meant huge “We all know the EU isn’t improvements in welfare.” remaining. The diet perfect, but be in no doubt, of the mountain hare if animals had votes they’d consists mainly of young Jean added: vote to stay in. The UK There are hopes the mountain hare can be heather, making Dartmoor’s “The EU has improved Government has already reintroduced to Dartmoor. 11,500 hectares of heather conditions for animals tried to weaken laws on Scientifically named Lepus moorland an ideal habitat. where national laboratory animals - this timidus, the animal is native The seasonal colour governments have failed to doesn’t give me confidence change of the mountain act, and its influence is felt that if we were to leave to Britain, unlike the brown Lepus europaeus hare has proved popular beyond European borders. the EU, the current level hare ( ) Oryctolagus with tourists in the Peak The EU brought in a blanket of protection for animals and rabbit ( cuniculus). The mountain District and conservation ban on animal testing for would remain. We call on group, South-West Action cosmetics; banned the all those concerned about hare probably died out on Dartmoor around For Hares, believe it would import of products newly animals to support the UK prove equally popular on 6,000 years ago when the tested on animals and remaining part of the EU. Dartmoor. moor became covered Cautious welcome Making medical research for new marine fit for the 21st century Keith recently hosted the predict real world human launch of a new Human reactions. protection zones Society International (HSI) HSI’s new initiative aims initiative in the European to steer medical research Molly said: Parliament which explores away from this outdated “The British Isles is alternatives to testing on system towards human- surrounded by many areas animals in medical research. relevant in vitro techniques recognised as having Each year, more than and to promote further particular environmental 100 million animals are investment in this area. value and it is right we subject to different types Keith said: protect and restore the of testing for the purpose precious wildlife of our of medical research. “The Humane Society Greens have cautiously coasts and sea. However However, as well as the International’s solutions- welcomed the designation with DEFRA and other ethical issues posed by based approach is of 23 new Marine regulators facing severe animal testing, studies something I wholeheartedly Conservation Zones (MCZs) cuts to their budgets we shows their limitations. In support. They have in UK waters, but say there can only wonder how particular, they provide demonstrated that we are still many important genuinely committed little understanding of how can address pressing marine wildlife sites left the government is to medicines behave in the health research without protection. They environmental protection. human body, and in many challenges without animal also warn the new zones will There also remain gaps in cases do not correctly experiments”. mean little without staff to establishing a ‘blue belt’ of enforce them. protection around the UK.” Highlighting illegal puppy UK lagging behind on smuggling scandal animal circus ban puppies is now the third most prolific and profitable Jean Lambert has written in circuses. Greens want after weapons and drugs in to the Government calling this completely banned. the EU, causing suffering for it to honour a manifesto Unfortunately the UK is to puppies and their commitment to stop the use playing catch-up, when of wild animals in circuses. once it led the way. The parents. The ‘Protect our The UK has fallen badly government must now Pets’ campaign calls for the behind the rest of Europe take swift action to ban introduction of harmonised on this. 17 EU countries animal circuses here in national systems for have national bans in place, the UK. Most people will the identification and prohibiting either wild animals not want the UK to be one registration of pets in each or all animals from being used of Europe’s last outposts EU country, something in circuses. Some countries of animal cruelty and Keith Taylor MEP, here with fully supported by Greens. – Greece, Cyprus and Malta exploitation.” Caroline Lucas MP, wants Keith has written to the – are leading the way with better protection for pets bans on the use of all animals. You can read Jean’s letter European Commissioner to the UK Government on Keith has been working to responsible for animal Jean said: her website. raise the issue of the illegal welfare and will continue “It is not acceptable to pet trade in the European working to secure the best have animals performing Parliament. Illegal trade in possible outcome.

Jean Lambert MEP Keith Taylor MEP Molly Scott Cato MEP London’s Green voice in Europe The South East’s Green voice The South West’s Green voice ➤ www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk in Europe in Europe ➤ [email protected] ➤ www.keithtaylormep.org.uk ➤ www.mollymep.org.uk ➤ Twitter: @GreenJeanMEP ➤ [email protected] ➤ [email protected] ➤ 020 7250 8416 ➤ Twitter: @GreenKeithMEP ➤ Twitter: @MollyMEP ➤ 020 7250 8415 ➤ 0117 916 6598