Meeting with EU Commission about blood farming
[Translate to English:] Sitzung zum Thema Blutfarmen in Südamerika, Import von PMSG und Blutserum
[Translate to English:] AWF-Projektleiterin Sabrina Gurtner im Gespräch mit EU Kommissar Andriukaiti bei der Übergabe der Recherche-Dokumentation
[Translate to English:] Starke Unterstützung durch die Eurogroup for Animals: Stephanie Noël, Jan Walter, Sabrina Gurtner, Reineke Hameleers
Today we meet in Brussels with Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. Members of his Cabinet and representatives of DG SANTE (Directorate General for Health and Food Safety) and DG TRADE also attend the meeting. We present the findings of our investigations about the production of blood serum in Uruguay and Argentina. In these countries, blood of pregnant mares is extracted without regard for their health or the health of their foals. Their blood is used for the production of the hormone PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin), which is used by the European pig industry for the induction and synchronization of oestrus in sows. Furthermore, we talk about public and political concerns in Europe and call on the Commission to seize short-term and long-term measures. The ensuing discussion is open and constructive. The Commission acknowledges that there is a problem and that action is needed. We hand over our investigation reports to Mr. Andriukaitis, who expresses being very cooperative on this issue. The Commission is now going to study our reports and analyse their possibilities.
