Brooks Animal Law Digest

During a debate of the Senate on March 9th, Senator Pierre J. Dalphond pressed Senator Marc Gold regarding when the government will ban the live export of horses to Japan. Senator Dalphond mentioned that the ban on this practice was one of the Liberal Party’s campaign promises, to which Senator Gold replied that the government is evaluating possible approaches alongside stakeholders at this time. Senator Gold also stated that, in the current absence of a ban, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is continuing to enforce regulations ensuring that horses are transported humanely. Ultimately, Senator Gold declared he would seek updates on progress surrounding the issue and return to the Senate with an answer.

Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, has passed its review by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development Committee in the House of Commons, retaining many important amendments made by the Senate and strengthening others. The bill requires the government to adopt scientifically justified alternatives to animal testing and develop a plan for reducing and replacing animals in toxicity testing, including a mandatory annual report to Parliament on the plan’s progress. Additionally, the bill requires mandatory public consultation when new genetically modified vertebrate animals are proposed. Bill S-5 only protects vertebrate animals, leaving octopuses and other invertebrates at risk from animal experimentation.

The federal government is launching an environmental study of Rouge National Urban Park to evaluate the impacts of Ontario’s recent decision to pass new regulations removing 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt for housing developments. Parks Canada criticized the decision last fall, saying it could cause irreversible harm to wildlife, including endangered species. The study, led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, will assess the park’s biodiversity and natural features, potentially delaying development of the adjacent Duffins Rouge Agriculture Preserve. The study aims to protect wildlife, natural resources, and ecological connectivity, and will include consultation with the public, Indigenous groups, and others.

Animal and environmental law organization Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (AEL Advocacy) has filed a false advertising complaint against the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) over ads that contain allegedly misleading claims about the environmental impact of beef. The ads claim that beef is "sustainable" and that beef cattle are "preserving 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in Canada." In its complaint, AEL Advocacy argues that these claims are not supported by scientific evidence and that the beef industry has a profoundly negative impact on the environment and contributes to the climate crisis. The organization is calling on Ad Standards to withdraw the ads and hold the CCA accountable for its alleged misleading advertising practices.

Marc-Antoine Côté, a man from Montreal, has been sentenced to sixteen months in prison––one of the harshest animal cruelty sentences ever handed down in Quebec. He was charged with throwing a cat off his balcony, causing her death, and for causing injuries to his dog that resulted in the animal's death. The Investigations Division of the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal collaborated on the investigation, resulting in Côté's arrest in October 2022. He pleaded guilty to the charges and is now banned from owning animals for life.

On March 10th, federal inspectors ruled a release of oilsands wastewater from Imperial Oil Ltd.’s Kearl mine was harmful to wildlife and issued a Fisheries Act direction ordering the company to take immediate action to stop seepage from a tailings pond. The realization that nine months had passed between the discovery of the original release and the public announcement drew widespread anger from First Nations, who harvest from land near the site. Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said: “This is further evidence that the regulator has lost all credibility […] We need the federal government to use all legal tools at its disposal to take control of the investigation and cleanup.”

The British Columbia (B.C.) government has invested five million dollars in a new animal disease preparedness and response program to help protect B.C. farms from avian influenza, swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease. The investment will be used to acquire equipment needed to respond to an outbreak as well as research and implementation of biosecurity to help farmers respond quicker and better to disease outbreaks. The funding also includes specific coordination and training for the livestock and poultry sector. The program is part of the $200 million B.C. investment into food security initiatives announced on March 7th.

The Government of Canada has tabled a response to petition e-4122, which called for an end to the federal government’s ban on importing rescue dogs from over one hundred countries. The response, submitted by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, states that: “This recent measure was implemented in response to the importation of dogs infected with dog rabies, and resulting calls from federal and provincial public health officials to strengthen importation measures in Canada for dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies.” This rationale has been criticized by animal welfare organizations, who claim the ban is overly broad and argue that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency failed to consider alternative rabies prevention measures, such as vaccines, antibody tests, and quarantines.

A new report by Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (AEL Advocacy), in collaboration with World Animal Protection, reveals that environmental protection legislation in most Canadian jurisdictions is insufficient to deal with the environmental impacts of the animal agriculture sector. The report includes a comprehensive review of domestic and international laws dealing with issues like land degradation, biodiversity loss, nutrient pollution, and climate change. The report recommends several legislative and policy reforms, such as restructuring government subsidies for agriculture, mandating best management practices, and imposing a moratorium on the expansion of Intensive Livestock Operations. These measures are aimed at reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture and promoting sustainable farming practices in Canada.

Cultivated meat is expected to make up thirty-five percent of global meat consumption by 2040, according to new research from GovGrant in the United Kingdom (UK). The study looked at the competitiveness of Europe and the UK in attracting investment for food technology companies developing innovations in this area. According to the research, the United States (US) is leading in investment in the sector, followed by Israel, the Netherlands, and Singapore. While regulatory approval of cultured meat in the US is advancing, the researchers found that the European Food Safety Authority is not yet ready to approve these products.

After more than fifteen years of negotiations, United Nations member states have agreed on a legally binding treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters. The treaty includes provisions for establishing and maintaining a network of marine protected areas, facilitating the realization of the “Thirty by Thirty” agreement to safeguard thirty percent of the ocean by 2030. The treaty also includes new standards for conducting environmental impact assessments, though fishing and deep-sea mining will be excluded, as they are currently regulated by other bodies. For the treaty to be implemented, the delegates must adopt the treaty text at a next meeting and a minimum of sixty states must ratify it, which could take months or years.

The Senate Natural Resources Committee public hearing on the Factory Farm Moratorium Bill (S.B. 85-1) in Oregon has concluded. As of March 13th, 460 written comments were submitted in favour of the bill, outnumbering written testimony in opposition by a factor of nearly three to one. Former Governor Kulongoski submitted comments in favour of the bill, noting: “The issues of water quantity and quality are critical concerns to me and to the citizens of Oregon regarding the siting of CAFOs [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations] because those issues affect both public health and the livelihoods of Oregonians. Without a moratorium on the government’s licensing and siting of CAFOs as defined in SB 85-1, the issues of water quantity and quality will remain unaddressed.”

Several European Union (EU) countries have agreed to try to reduce the number of farms covered by proposed rules to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, despite criticisms from some other member states. Under the European Commission's proposal, all cattle, pig, and poultry farms with over 150 livestock units would face limits. However, environment ministers from certain countries are pushing for only cattle and pig farms with at least 350 livestock units and poultry farms with 280 livestock units to be covered. These countries, including Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, and Poland, argue that the proposal is not realistic and is too burdensome for farmers.

Oxford City Council has passed the Plant-based Food and Sustainable Farming motion put forth by Councillor Paula Dunne. The motion requires that all food provided for internal councillor events will be entirely plant-based and all food served at council catered events and meetings include plant-based options, with a preference for locally sourced ingredients from food surplus organizations. The purpose of the motion is to address climate change and reduce the carbon footprint of the council's activities.

IKEA has pledged to make its food menus predominantly plant-based by 2030 as part of its goal to become planet-positive. The company has seen a rise in sales of its plant-based food options, with the share of sales for these options increasing by three percent over the last fiscal year. IKEA is starting by working towards the goal that fifty percent of the main meals offered in their restaurants will be plant-based by 2025. The company is also set to introduce beef-free food halls called Saluhall in several countries, which will start by being eighty percent plant-based and gradually move towards achieving a one-hundred percent vegan menu.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has faced condemnation from animal-welfare groups in Canada, the United States, and Britain, including singer-songwriter Jann Arden and Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, after saying he would expand Canada’s seal hunt if he becomes prime minister. Poilievre blamed opposition to the cull on “eco-nuts” and claimed that killing more seals is necessary to curb a rise in the seal population and protect Atlantic salmon. However, animal welfare groups and experts have disputed his claim that harp seals are responsible for depleting the Atlantic salmon population, pointing out that seals mainly feed on capelin, cod, and crustaceans such as crab and krill.

During a debate of the Senate on March 9th, Senator Pierre J. Dalphond pressed Senator Marc Gold regarding when the government will ban the live export of horses to Japan. Senator Dalphond mentioned that the ban on this practice was one of the Liberal Party’s campaign promises, to which Senator Gold replied that the government is evaluating possible approaches alongside stakeholders at this time. Senator Gold also stated that, in the current absence of a ban, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is continuing to enforce regulations ensuring that horses are transported humanely. Ultimately, Senator Gold declared he would seek updates on progress surrounding the issue and return to the Senate with an answer.

Manitoba’s Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson has introduced amendments to the process for appeals brought before the Animal Care Appeal Board under the Animal Care Act. The Animal Care Appeal Board hears appeals on animal seizures and other decisions and orders made under the Animal Care Act. Bill 31, also known as The Animal Care Amendment Act (2), would update the process for filing appeals, increase the flexibility of hearings, and introduce provisions related to the dismissal of appeals. The bill would also introduce a seven-day time limit for filing a notice of appeal, include provisions that would allow the appeal board to dismiss an appeal for specific reasons (e.g. if the appeal was not filed within the seven days) and allow an opportunity for the appellant to make a written submission to the board before the appeal is dismissed.

Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, has passed its review by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development Committee in the House of Commons, retaining many important amendments made by the Senate and strengthening others. The bill requires the government to adopt scientifically justified alternatives to animal testing and develop a plan for reducing and replacing animals in toxicity testing, including a mandatory annual report to Parliament on the plan’s progress. Additionally, the bill requires mandatory public consultation when new genetically modified vertebrate animals are proposed. Bill S-5 only protects vertebrate animals, leaving octopuses and other invertebrates at risk from animal experimentation.

The federal government is launching an environmental study of Rouge National Urban Park to evaluate the impacts of Ontario’s recent decision to pass new regulations removing 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt for housing developments. Parks Canada criticized the decision last fall, saying it could cause irreversible harm to wildlife, including endangered species. The study, led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, will assess the park’s biodiversity and natural features, potentially delaying development of the adjacent Duffins Rouge Agriculture Preserve. The study aims to protect wildlife, natural resources, and ecological connectivity, and will include consultation with the public, Indigenous groups, and others.

Animal and environmental law organization Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (AEL Advocacy) has filed a false advertising complaint against the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) over ads that contain allegedly misleading claims about the environmental impact of beef. The ads claim that beef is "sustainable" and that beef cattle are "preserving 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon in Canada." In its complaint, AEL Advocacy argues that these claims are not supported by scientific evidence and that the beef industry has a profoundly negative impact on the environment and contributes to the climate crisis. The organization is calling on Ad Standards to withdraw the ads and hold the CCA accountable for its alleged misleading advertising practices.

Manitoba’s chief veterinarian's office is investigating a case of potential animal abuse or neglect after a Manitoba animal rescue saved two dogs in an emaciated condition who were being sold through an online auction house. The dogs had multiple infections, were severely underweight, and covered in feces and urine. The animals were part of a February consignment sale that listed over twenty dogs for sale. The situation has sparked a debate about whether the online sale of dogs should be banned due to a lack of oversight.

Tracey Knight, forty years-old, is facing animal cruelty charges after thirty-eight dogs living in unsanitary conditions were rescued from her home. Several of the dogs were found locked in cages and suffering from health issues such as tumours, bites to the face, and Lyme disease. Knight is also charged with causing damage or injury to an animal by failing to provide adequate, food, water, care or shelter. She is scheduled to appear in court in Killaloe, Ontario in May 2023. Of the thirty-eight dogs rescued, Riverview Rescues still has 19 dogs who are looking for homes.

Following an investigation into a domestic disturbance, the Ontario Provincial Police have charged a twenty-seven year-old Perth County resident with cruelty to animals causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury, and causing damage or injury to an animal or bird by failing to provide suitable food, water, care, or shelter. The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date.

Marc-Antoine Côté, a man from Montreal, has been sentenced to sixteen months in prison––one of the harshest animal cruelty sentences ever handed down in Quebec. He was charged with throwing a cat off his balcony, causing her death, and for causing injuries to his dog that resulted in the animal's death. The Investigations Division of the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal collaborated on the investigation, resulting in Côté's arrest in October 2022. He pleaded guilty to the charges and is now banned from owning animals for life.

Sixty-four-year-old Joel McCulloch has been charged after Ontario Provincial Police found a dog abandoned near Godfrey, Ontario. The dog managed to survive the cold winter temperatures for eleven days before being rescued by a member of the public. McCulloch is facing several charges under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, including causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal; failing to provide suitable/adequate food, water, care, and shelter; and causing undue stress to an animal.

Dogway Dog Rescue, a Mission-based shelter in British Columbia, has been ordered to pay over $75,000 to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) after an appeal for the return of sixty-three seized dogs was denied by the Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB). The SPCA officers seized the dogs on January 4th, 2023, due to allegations of neglect and abuse. In its decision, the FIRB noted that the shelter has a history of complaints related to animal welfare dating back to 2012, and while the shelter made efforts to improve, it always returned to providing inadequate care.

The Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is investigating after more than fifteen dogs were rescued from a suspected backyard breeder in Parkland County by Second Chance Animal Rescue Society. The dogs were found severely malnourished, matted, and dirty. According to a statement by the Alberta SPCA, they will assess whether to lay charges under the Animal Protection Act (APA) after the immediate welfare of the animals has been addressed. The maximum fine under the APA is $20,000, and charges under the Criminal Code are required for a jail term.

On March 10th, federal inspectors ruled a release of oilsands wastewater from Imperial Oil Ltd.’s Kearl mine was harmful to wildlife and issued a Fisheries Act direction ordering the company to take immediate action to stop seepage from a tailings pond. The realization that nine months had passed between the discovery of the original release and the public announcement drew widespread anger from First Nations, who harvest from land near the site. Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation said: “This is further evidence that the regulator has lost all credibility […] We need the federal government to use all legal tools at its disposal to take control of the investigation and cleanup.”

The British Columbia (B.C.) government has invested five million dollars in a new animal disease preparedness and response program to help protect B.C. farms from avian influenza, swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease. The investment will be used to acquire equipment needed to respond to an outbreak as well as research and implementation of biosecurity to help farmers respond quicker and better to disease outbreaks. The funding also includes specific coordination and training for the livestock and poultry sector. The program is part of the $200 million B.C. investment into food security initiatives announced on March 7th.

The Government of Canada has tabled a response to petition e-4122, which called for an end to the federal government’s ban on importing rescue dogs from over one hundred countries. The response, submitted by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, states that: “This recent measure was implemented in response to the importation of dogs infected with dog rabies, and resulting calls from federal and provincial public health officials to strengthen importation measures in Canada for dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies.” This rationale has been criticized by animal welfare organizations, who claim the ban is overly broad and argue that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency failed to consider alternative rabies prevention measures, such as vaccines, antibody tests, and quarantines.

A new report by The Fur-Bearers highlights the negative impacts of fur farming in Canada and provides recommendations for successful transition. The report outlines several harms caused by the sector, including risks to public health and the environment, as well as harm caused to animals themselves. It recommends a prohibition on fur farming in Canada and the creation of financial and occupational programs to help workers and employers shift to safer and more sustainable industries. The report draws on examples from other countries that have successfully banned fur farming, suggesting Canada can learn from their experiences.

A new report by Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy (AEL Advocacy), in collaboration with World Animal Protection, reveals that environmental protection legislation in most Canadian jurisdictions is insufficient to deal with the environmental impacts of the animal agriculture sector. The report includes a comprehensive review of domestic and international laws dealing with issues like land degradation, biodiversity loss, nutrient pollution, and climate change. The report recommends several legislative and policy reforms, such as restructuring government subsidies for agriculture, mandating best management practices, and imposing a moratorium on the expansion of Intensive Livestock Operations. These measures are aimed at reducing the environmental impact of animal agriculture and promoting sustainable farming practices in Canada.

Hope Ferdowsian, “A silent call for a socially and ecologically just One Health approach” (2023) CABI One Health.

Summary: In 1962, the world began reading biologist Rachel Carson’s warnings of a silent spring, which challenged the claim that humans are separate from nature. Carson wrote of a hidden danger—a synthetic insecticide known as DDT—threatening human and nonhuman lives. She warned of how birdless skies and fishless waterways foreshadowed what could happen to humans—ultimately ushering in an environmental movement and a transformation in national and international policy.

This article is an invited commentary that illustrates the need for a socially and ecologically just One Health approach and how the author arrived at this evidence-based view throughout her own medical and public health career.

Cultivated meat is expected to make up thirty-five percent of global meat consumption by 2040, according to new research from GovGrant in the United Kingdom (UK). The study looked at the competitiveness of Europe and the UK in attracting investment for food technology companies developing innovations in this area. According to the research, the United States (US) is leading in investment in the sector, followed by Israel, the Netherlands, and Singapore. While regulatory approval of cultured meat in the US is advancing, the researchers found that the European Food Safety Authority is not yet ready to approve these products.

Annie Bernatchez, “Animal Justice Citizen Activism and the Politics of Sight“ (PhD Thesis, School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, 2023).

Abstract: This thesis examines the social phenomenon of farm occupations enacted by Animal Justice Citizen Activists (AJCAs). Farm occupations are a strategy of civil disobedience that make visible the animal violence behind the scenes in the animal-industrial complex; they enact a politics of sight that receives substantial pushback. Informed by two bodies of literature, Critical Animal Studies and Social Movements Studies, the thesis focuses on the socio-political context and on the emotional dimension of undertaking a politics of sight. An analysis of the mainstream media and provincial governments representations of four Canadian farm occupations and the legislative response in two provinces where ag-gag laws have been passed reveals a general tendency of political suppression. That is, representations of farm occupations tend to deprecate the politics of sight and eschew its goal of achieving full visibility of animal violence on farms. Moreover, while investigating the politics of sight with the analytical lens of critical substantivism, where farm occupations are seen as an ethico-political practice, further perils become visible, including the silencing of the practice of giving voice to animals, but also the societal disposition towards misunderstanding and being indifferent to the suffering of animals on farms. In addition to these structural challenges of making visible what is hidden in plain sight, the analysis of in-depth interviews with 15 AJCAs across Canada reveals an idiosyncratic, yet collective, form of emotionality manageable through reflexivity, when activists are confronted with and bear witness to the reality of animal violence in their efforts to enact a politics of sight. […] This thesis provides a critical reflection on the structural and emotional dynamics of performing a politics of sight in the context of Animal Justice activism.

After more than fifteen years of negotiations, United Nations member states have agreed on a legally binding treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters. The treaty includes provisions for establishing and maintaining a network of marine protected areas, facilitating the realization of the “Thirty by Thirty” agreement to safeguard thirty percent of the ocean by 2030. The treaty also includes new standards for conducting environmental impact assessments, though fishing and deep-sea mining will be excluded, as they are currently regulated by other bodies. For the treaty to be implemented, the delegates must adopt the treaty text at a next meeting and a minimum of sixty states must ratify it, which could take months or years.

A new law has been proposed in Italy that would impose strict labeling rules to prevent plant-based products from using “meat-related” terms. The move echoes similar attempts in France and South Africa to restrict terms such as “burger,” “bacon,” and “sausage” for use by the plant-based meat sector. According to the proposal, the bill is aimed at protecting ‘national livestock heritage,’ citing concerns about the potential for vegan meat to mislead consumers. Animal welfare and environmental advocacy groups have criticized the bill, saying it could slow the growth of the plant-based food market and harm European Union plans for a sustainable food system.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its draft guidelines for the labelling of plant-based milk alternatives, and has declared that such alternatives (including almond, cashew, soy, and other plant-based milks) may continue to label themselves as milk. The FDA notes that this guidance is meant to “provide industry with recommendations that will result in clear labeling to empower consumers with information to help them make more informed purchasing decisions.” They also recommend that most alternatives with the term “milk” in their name include a nutrition statement that communicates how the product compares with dairy milk. These guidelines follow an FDA notice requesting comment from the public to gain insight into how consumers view, use and understand various aspects of plant-based dairy alternatives in 2018, which received over 13,000 comments.

The Senate Natural Resources Committee public hearing on the Factory Farm Moratorium Bill (S.B. 85-1) in Oregon has concluded. As of March 13th, 460 written comments were submitted in favour of the bill, outnumbering written testimony in opposition by a factor of nearly three to one. Former Governor Kulongoski submitted comments in favour of the bill, noting: “The issues of water quantity and quality are critical concerns to me and to the citizens of Oregon regarding the siting of CAFOs [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations] because those issues affect both public health and the livelihoods of Oregonians. Without a moratorium on the government’s licensing and siting of CAFOs as defined in SB 85-1, the issues of water quantity and quality will remain unaddressed.”

Spain has passed its first animal welfare law, along with an amendment to the penal code imposing harsher penalties for animal cruelty. The law makes it obligatory for anyone adopting a dog to undergo training and imposes a ban on leaving a dog alone for more than twenty-four-hours. Owners must also sterilize cats in an effort to control overpopulation and abandonment. Changes to the penal code stipulate up to three years in prison if an animal dies due to "aggravating factors" and up to eighteen months if the animal requires veterinary treatment. The law mainly concerns pets and does not include animals raised for slaughter, nor does it cover hunting dogs.

Several European Union (EU) countries have agreed to try to reduce the number of farms covered by proposed rules to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, despite criticisms from some other member states. Under the European Commission's proposal, all cattle, pig, and poultry farms with over 150 livestock units would face limits. However, environment ministers from certain countries are pushing for only cattle and pig farms with at least 350 livestock units and poultry farms with 280 livestock units to be covered. These countries, including Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, and Poland, argue that the proposal is not realistic and is too burdensome for farmers.

At a full council meeting held on March 14th, Norwich City Council became the third council in the United Kingdom (UK) to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, which calls for a shift towards plant-based diets in order to reduce consumption-based emissions and help tackle climate change.  The council will now write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs supporting the UK’s endorsement of the Plant Based Treaty as a companion to the Paris Agreement. The council will also write to Norfolk County Council to request a carbon impact assessment of the meat and dairy industries across the county.

Oxford City Council has passed the Plant-based Food and Sustainable Farming motion put forth by Councillor Paula Dunne. The motion requires that all food provided for internal councillor events will be entirely plant-based and all food served at council catered events and meetings include plant-based options, with a preference for locally sourced ingredients from food surplus organizations. The purpose of the motion is to address climate change and reduce the carbon footprint of the council's activities.

In late January, a sign was posted in St. Andrew's Playground Dog Park by the City of Toronto, asking dog owners not to allow their dogs to bark excessively and disturb the neighborhood. The sign faced criticism by dog owners who found it confusing and unreasonable. The City of Toronto has removed the sign and plans to review its sign approval process to ensure clarity in future signs.

Alimentation Couche-Tard, the convenience store giant that owns Circle K, is expanding its promise to source all of its eggs from cage-free hens. The company now plans to sell only cage-free eggs in its 2000 international stores by the year 2025. This follows an announcement in 2018, when Couche-Tard declared it would exclusively sell cage-free eggs in its corporate stores by 2025. As of now, it is two-thirds of the way to meeting this target. 

IKEA has pledged to make its food menus predominantly plant-based by 2030 as part of its goal to become planet-positive. The company has seen a rise in sales of its plant-based food options, with the share of sales for these options increasing by three percent over the last fiscal year. IKEA is starting by working towards the goal that fifty percent of the main meals offered in their restaurants will be plant-based by 2025. The company is also set to introduce beef-free food halls called Saluhall in several countries, which will start by being eighty percent plant-based and gradually move towards achieving a one-hundred percent vegan menu.

Sportswear giant Nike has declared that it will stop the use of kangaroo leather for its shoes beginning in 2023. This follows a similar measure taken by German competitor Puma earlier this year, and comes after much protest from both activists and consumers. Most recently, Oregon Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced a bill that would prohibit the purchase, sale, transfer or other exchanges of any kangaroo skins for commercial purposes. Nike terminated its partnership with its only kangaroo leather supplier in 2021.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has announced eight recipients of its Christine Stevens Wildlife Award. The award provides individual grants of up to $15,000 to develop tools and strategies to reduce conflicts between wild animals and humans. The grant program has distributed more than one million dollars to ninety-one recipients so far, who have conducted research involving nearly every major group of nonhuman animal. The recipients promote non-lethal solutions to wildlife conflicts and humane methods to study wildlife, contributing to a growing body of scientific evidence. DJ Schubert, AWI’s wildlife biologist, said: “AWI is proud to fund such diverse, exciting research that has important welfare, financial, and safety benefits.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has faced condemnation from animal-welfare groups in Canada, the United States, and Britain, including singer-songwriter Jann Arden and Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, after saying he would expand Canada’s seal hunt if he becomes prime minister. Poilievre blamed opposition to the cull on “eco-nuts” and claimed that killing more seals is necessary to curb a rise in the seal population and protect Atlantic salmon. However, animal welfare groups and experts have disputed his claim that harp seals are responsible for depleting the Atlantic salmon population, pointing out that seals mainly feed on capelin, cod, and crustaceans such as crab and krill.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized Chinese officials for withholding research that could link the origin of Covid-19 to wild animals, questioning why the data was not disclosed three years ago and why it is currently inaccessible. The data surfaced online in January 2023, and was scrutinized by a team of international virus specialists before vanishing. Experts believe that the data suggests the outbreak may have originated when illegally traded raccoon dogs infected humans at a seafood market in Wuhan. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said the missing evidence “needs to be shared with the international community immediately”.