Progreso en Verde, a political party that champions the rights of animals in the Balearics, has called on EU institutions to end the exploitation of horses. In drawing attention to the ‘horse buggies’ that ferry tourists around Mallorca, we are reminded that this is not an isolated issue - horses the world over are being forced to endure terrible hardships.

Since Brexit finally came to pass, there’s been uncertainty within the UK plant-based movement about whether it’s worth engaging with vegan, environmental, and animal-welfare issues in Europe. The plant-based dairy censorship petition is a great example of why EU issues still matter.

This week 21 NGOs called on the European Commission and the European Council to stop plant-based dairy censorship (by preventing amendment 171, passed by the European Parliament in October 2020, from being implemented in Member States). Coming from environmental organisations as diverse as Greenpeace, WWF, and Foodwatch, as well as consumer organisations and animal-welfare groups, including World Animal Protection, the message is clear: protect our planet, its animals, and our health.

As absurd as that headline sounds, it could very soon be a reality. Amendment 171, currently being considered for approval by the European Commission, could soon make it illegal for producers of plant-based dairy alternatives to use not just terms like “creamy” and “buttery”, but even hint at an association. We take a look at this lobby-led censorship, other bans like it and what it means not just for vegans but Europe as a whole.

An analysis of new data from the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has revealed the EU to be the biggest exporter of live animals. But what is larger - our sense of surprise or the scale of the EU’s hypocrisy regarding animal welfare?