Published 03/02/2011

Compassion is supporting an event at the European Parliament in Brussels to push MEPs and other policymakers from the European Commission and Council to pledge to improve the sustainability of pork production.

Compassion is supporting an event at the European Parliament in Brussels on 9th February to highlight the unsustainability of intensive pork production, and intensive livestock farming more generally.

The event will feature a special screening of Tracy Worcester's eye-opening documentary film, Pig Business, followed by presentations from experts in animal welfare, environment and health and an open floor debate. Compassion's Chief Policy Advisor, Peter Stevenson is to be one of the main speakers.

MEPs (Members of the European Parliament), European Council and Commission officials, NGO representatives and specialist journalists are expected to attend and MEPs will be asked by the organisers to undertake Six Big Asks:

1. Recognise that the profitability of factory farming depends on externalising its true costs onto the broader community.

2. Ensure the Common Agricultural Policy post 2013 moves European agriculture away from industrial livestock production to sustainable, humane and autonomous forms of animal husbandry.

3. Ensure better enforcement and strengthening of the existing EU Directive on the welfare of pigs.

4. Introduce mandatory method of production labelling.

5. Introduce a ban on routine prophylactic use of antibiotics.

6. Ensure national and EU public bodies only source locally or nationally produced high welfare pork.

This event offers an amazing opportunity to influence European policy as the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013 is currently under negotiation. Consequently it is important that we get as many MEPs to attend the event as possible.

What you can do to help

Invite all the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for your local region to attend the special screening of Pig Business in Brussels on 9th February online here.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and debate on The Hidden Costs of Factory Farming.

View the documentary film Pig Business online here for a shocking exposé of the horrors of industrial pig farming spreading across Europe.