Ban the chocolate eggs. Gummy bears might be taken for bush meat. Kidney beans are a clear threat to anyone looking for some Italian rognone. And don't get me started on the French Oiseaux sans tête (headless birds that involve no birds at all).

“A beef tomato doesn’t contain any beef … Ladies’ fingers are not made of actual ladies’ fingers. Let’s trust consumers and stop this hotdog populism,” says Austrian MEP Anna Stürgkh Ditto Shepherds pie Feel free to add your own below 👇 www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

⚠️𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆.⚠️ Once again, this assault on environmental safeguards is being sold as “simplification.” It’s not simplification, it’s dismantling. And it’s a betrayal of both nature and farmers.

355 MEPs voted today to ban the use of meat denominations like burger & sausage for plant-based products. This is a manufactured issue. Consumers are not confused. If there was ever clearer evidence of political decision-making being heavily influenced by the animal agriculture lobby. This is it.

The EU frogmarched into ridicule by the intensive farm lobby. The European Parliament has voted through the Veggie burgers ban. As the world burns, we make symbolic gestures to show we want to burn it faster.

📈 80% of EU consumers support using terms like veggie burger. So why is the EU trying to ban them? This would only increase red tape and prevent the shift to sustainable, plant-rich diets. 145+ orgs are saying: there is #NoConfusion. Sign the letter: noconfusion.org

#thread 1) On 8th October, @europarl.europa.eu will vote on a report on strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain. This includes an absurd amendment (AM 113) seeking to restrict the use of meat denominations like burger & sausage for plant-based products.

@humaneworldeurope.bsky.social is organising a rountable event at the EP, in Brussels, on 14/10, on the topic of the #REACH revision and #NAMs. It is kindly hosted by MEPs @tillymetz.bsky.social (The Greens) and @nielsfuglsang.bsky.social (S&D). Register now via: www.eventbrite.com/e/1667448165...

Really enjoyed today’s premiere of ‘Boerocratie’, which exposes Big Ag’s increasingly insidious influence on political decision-making in both the Hague & Brussels. This really needs to be subtitled in English & screened at the EP! youtu.be/nW5UAEKvLf4?...

Vanmiddag ga ik naar de Tuschinski voor de première van ‘Boerocratie’, een film die onthult hoe ‘BigAg’ steeds meer greep krijgt op de (inter)nationale politiek. Dat zie ik helaas met eigen ogen steeds meer gebeuren in Brussel. Er zijn nog kaartjes: www.ngpf.nl/boerocratie-2

Thinking of European Commission staff behind the Farm to Fork Strategy when they'll read the new #EATLancet report.... They had it all right, and it's a real shame the EU's blueprint for healthy, fair and environmentally friendly #FoodSystems was derailed. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

35 jaar geleden hielp het kijken naar GTST me om Nederlands te leren. Binnen een jaar of zo beheerste ik de taal goed genoeg om te beseffen net hoe stom de serie eigenlijk was...

Incredibly sad news. I had the privilege of meeting & hearing Jane Goodall speak several times over the past couple of decades. She has left an incredible legacy for both animal behavioural science & animal protection.

Good to see that some of the @europarl.europa.eu committees have recently started up their own Bluesky accounts.

🥩➡️🥦The @ec.europa.eu wants to ban words like “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak” when used on plant-based foods. But consumers aren’t confused – they just want choice. 📣 Join the campaign and sign the petition: noconfusion.org/petition #NoConfusion #YesVeggieBurger

Inspiring words from the Commissioner @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu highlighting that the REACH revision will address animal testing an issue that is important to many citizens. "The Commission is committed to reducing its use, and we will foster non-animal methods in chemical safety assessments".

Seize this ‘crucial moment’ for animal-free chemical testing reform, say @humaneworldeurope.bsky.social's experts Animal testing science has developed significantly in 20 years; now it’s time to align industry with new non-animal testing methods. www.euractiv.com/news/seize-t...

Will shortly be joining @efsa.europa.eu webinar on its scientific opinion on the welfare of mink, foxes, raccoon dogs & chinchillas. @humaneworldeurope.bsky.social actively fed into this process making extensive submissions on the inherent cruelty of fur farming. www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/we...

👏Led by @krzysztofsmiszek.bsky.social, 41 MEPs from across all political groups have tabled an Oral Question asking @ec.europa.eu whether it will commit to proposing an EU-wide ban on fur farming. www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...

Join us on 14th October at 15:00 online or at @europarl.europa.eu for the hybrid event 'Stolen Wildlife: Closing the loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. Kindly hosted by MEPs @gerbrandy.bsky.social @cesarluena.bsky.social @anjahazekamp.bsky.social. www.eventbrite.de/e/stolen-wil...

En route to London Heathrow airport for a work visit to the Animal Reception Centre. En route I rescued & released this poor little chiffchaff who had inadvertently boarded the Piccadilly Line. 🪶

My fellow animal advocates, if there is one thing you should read today, this article from @clarecarlile.bsky.social is it. It is indeed chilling & one has to wonder whether the animal ag industry in Europe is up to the same tricks.

Visiting Tor, my oldest friend. He was found wandering on a suburban London street in 1962 & has been living with my family ever since. Nice to see the old boy before he goes into hibernation.

📢 Last week to register for @efsa.europa.eu webinars on its scientific opinions on #AnimalWelfare: 📌 29 Sept – Fur animals (mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas) 👉 link.europa.eu/dfmpTP 📌 2 Oct – Beef cattle 👉 link.europa.eu/NqBXKJ

A terribly bad policy set to become worse. www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...

I stepped away from it some time ago. It is a shame though that there seems to be less engagement & activity here on Bluesky (at least from within the Brussels bubble) than when I first joined during the mass migration from the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.

🦘 Good news! Belgium has just notified the Commission that they're seeking a prohibition of the commercialisation and manufacture of products derived from kangaroos! 🦘 technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notificat...

For my sins, now sitting in on the EP ‘Sustainable Livestock’ Intergroup meeting. To me, a diet with significantly less animal protein means far less animal suffering, fewer GHG emissions & improved human health…

Attending the EP Animal Welfare Intergroup meeting on the scientific case against fur farming. @efsa-biohaw.bsky.social will shortly be presenting its opinion on the welfare of animals on fur farms. You can follow here online too. www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/calendar/sci...

🐖 “More animals are suffering at human hands today than ever before,” says Lewis Bollard in his TED talk on factory farming. 💬 Factory farming thrives in the dark—so the most effective way to end it is to talk about it. 🔗Watch here → tinyurl.com/mr4dy6m7

The issue of meat denominations is a completely manufactured 'problem' by a protectionist animal ag industry. No-one is confused. @eppgroup.bsky.social also conveniently forgets that it is *farmers* who grow the plants from which veggie burgers etc. are made... www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/ste...

Brussels drafts new kill list of deadlocked bills. Legislative files without sufficient support to become law will be reassessed to free up resources. What's to bet the animal transport file ends up on that kind of list next year... www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Today at the @europarl.europa.eu canteen in Strasbourg. 🙈 How difficult is it for a major food service provider to understand the concept of vegan?! Double-checked & was reassured that no animals were harmed in making of this falafel.

Interesting new report on meat alternatives was recently published by @easac.bsky.social. In meantime, last night @europarl.europa.eu's AGRI committee voted in favour of new EU restrictions on meat-related terms for plant-based (& cultivated) products... 😩 www.interacademies.org/sites/defaul...

Wonders will never cease. Despite a 60 min delay & re-routing of my first train to Paris Gare du Nord, I managed to catch the Strasbourg train at Gare de l’Est by skin of my teeth & have arrived bang on time in Strasbourg. 🥳

#SaveTheDate! Join us this Thursday at 9 AM CEST for a debate on the ''scientific case against fur farming'' 🎤 Among the participants: @efsa.europa.eu, @elainsuojelu.bsky.social, and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe. www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/calendar/sci...

En route to Strasbourg for the EP Plenary session. At least I will be if my first train ever departs from Amsterdam. Pity those hoping to board it at Schiphol or Rotterdam. This Eurostar to Paris is being re-routed & now won’t even stop anywhere until Antwerp…

"Het was al lang duidelijk dat de bontindustrie geen toekomst heeft. Het is nu aan de Europese Commissie om deze wrede en onnodige industrie naar de geschiedenis te verwijzen." @joswabe.bsky.social 👇🏼

EU Commission proposes signature and conclusion of free trade deals with Mercosur and (revised) with Mexico - ec.europa.eu/commission/p... Qs and As on the EU/Mercosur deal (including plans to propose a law on EU safeguards) - ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

On 30th July, @efsa.europa.eu published its damning scientific opinion on the welfare of animals on fur farms. In this OpEd, I argue why the @ec.europa.eu must now act to relegate this cruel and unnecessary industry to the annals of history. www.euractiv.com/section/eet/...

Enhancing Wildlife Trade Monitoring in the European Union - No Need to Reinvent the Wheel. @ec.europa.eu should indeed be adapting TRACES database to record imports/exports of wildlife at a species level. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Eurasian Spoonbills! 🪶

🪶 A question for all you bird nerds: is this a female Greater Scaup, or a Tufted Duck? I thought the former, but both Obsidentify & Merlin don’t give a conclusive answer!! #birds

Don’t let the EU tear down nature protection ❌ The European Commission is quietly trying to dismantle the laws that safeguard what we cherish most: our nature. They think we wouldn’t notice or care. But we do. Tell them to keep their #HandsOffNature 👉 www.wwf.eu/campaigns/it...

Took a day off yesterday to take a long cycle ride in the Veluwe & enjoy the last of summer sun before the political rollercoaster starts up again. Was fortunate to encounter this herd of red deer en route.

The far-right tells a story people buy — so why don't progressives? A thoughtful Op-Ed from ‪@emansferreira.bsky.social‬. euobserver.com/EU%20Politic... ‬

‘They should be ashamed’: Green backsliding is wrecking Europe, EU’s first climate chief warns www.politico.eu/article/gree...

Former owner of the world's largest rhino farm in South Africa denies smuggling rhino horns worth $14m to Southeast Asia. www.bbc.com/news/article...

📢 How #trophy #hunting advocates inflate the financial benefits of trophy hunting for the South African #economy, i.a. by relying on hunters' self-reported information, mixing trophy with billtong hunting & use a dubious multiplier factor❗ 🤯 #WorthMoreAlive 👉 www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

Plot to hire dog-slaying hitman rocks Czech election race www.politico.eu/article/czec...