The meat industry and farmers unions derailed a move by the European Commission to strengthen the animal welfare legislation.

Four regulations (farming, transport, slaughter, labelling) were supposed to put an end to practices such as cages, mutilations, or extreme densities. Of all four, only the one about transport was published, even though all the opinion surveys show an overwhelming citizen support for better conditions for the animals.

The European Union is a democracy and must stand up for all its citizens, not just for specific professional groups.