Foie Gras Ban to be Taken to Europe

EU - Expressing disappointment about the overturn of the ban on the sale of foie gras in California, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) says it will appeal against the ruling there and a ban on its production in Europe.
calendar icon 15 January 2015
clock icon 2 minute read

CIWF says it is deeply disappointed that California’s law banning the sale of "inhumane" foie gras has been overturned.

Foie gras or ‘fatty liver’, is produced by cruelly force feeding ducks and geese so that their livers become enlarged, it says.

A federal judge recently issued a ruling that overturned California’s law banning the sale of foie gras. The ban was ruled unconstitutional because it interferes with a federal law right which state law cannot do.

CIWF is hopeful that an appeal against this ruling will be successful.

Foie gras in Europe

CIWF is calling for foie gras production to be banned across Europe. A European Council Directive states: “No animal shall be provided with food or liquid in a manner... which may cause unnecessary suffering or injury”.

Yet around one million birds die during this cruel feeding process every single year, the group says. Many countries have banned the force feeding of animals for foie gras. But the suffering goes on. Annually more than 19,000 tonnes of foie gras is produced in France alone.

CIWF is calling on the Presidents of the Commission and EU Agriculture Council to take urgent action. More than 290,000 people have said "no" to foie gras in Europe, it adds.

Further Reading

Go to our previous news item on the lifting of the ban in California by clicking here.

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