American Humane
Budget
€10 — €0
EP Access
2
accredited persons
Staff
3
0.3 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
American Humane Society is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year in areas including agriculture, zoos and aquariums and the film industry. Founded in 1877, American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals. We rescue, care for and protect animals, and champion the healing power of the human-animal bond. We are protectors, advocates, scientists and innovators — united by our unwavering commitment to a world where all animals are safe, respected and prioritized. As rescuers, we deploy resources, technology and personnel with urgency and compassion to rescue animals from danger and disaster. As advocates, we are the voice of the voiceless, shaping and driving policy to establish and expand protection for all animals.
EU Legislative Interests
American Humane, along with its international brand Global Humane, is exploring ways to engage with the European Union and its member countries on issues related to animal welfare and animal well-being. The European Union has a long, esteemed history of advancing animal welfare on the basis of sound scientific knowledge, which is fully aligned with our organisation's mission. We work to elevate standards of animal welfare across a wide range of areas. Our advocacy efforts primarily focus on legislation related to animal welfare and the associated legislative proposals and policy areas of critical importance at the European Union level. • Building upon the existing animal welfare legislation, the current European Commission will modernize the rules on animal welfare, including the import of exotic animals and standards addressing sustainability, ethical, scientific, and economic considerations, as well as citizens’ expectations. • In December 2023, the European Commission proposed the first-ever EU legislation specifically aimed at the welfare of dogs and cats. • Regulation 1/2005/EC on the protection of animals during transport regulates the transport of live vertebrates within the EU, as well as animals entering and leaving the EU. Its goal is to ensure animal welfare during transportation. In January 2022, the European Parliament adopted recommendations to the Council and the Commission emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement and possible revision of the rules on the protection of animals during transport, both within and outside the EU. • Completing the European Health Union, with particular attention to animal welfare issues. • The Farm to Fork Strategy—how to link animal welfare policies to local and regional agriculture. • The enforcement of food safety standards—focusing on animal welfare issues.
Communication Activities
At present, American Humane does not conduct significant communication or campaign activities in Europe. However, in the future, the organization’s representatives and experts are expected to be invited as guest speakers to various EU-related events addressing current issues in animal welfare. We are planning to organize our own online and offline workshops as well as informational and educational events within EU institutions. Additionally, we aim to establish close professional relationships with experts in the European Commission responsible for this field and the relevant committees of the European Parliament, such as the CULT, AGRI, and ENVI committees.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
• IUCN (Species Survival Commission) • World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) • US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Egg (USRSPE) – Board of Directors & Committee Member • Dairy Sustainability Framework (DSF) – Advisor • Protein PACT – Advisor • International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA) – Members & Committee Member • US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (URSB) – Members • Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA) – Members • US Poultry & Egg Association – Members • Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance - Members
Organisation Members
We do not have any members. We have a South African non-profit company as well that operates in the wildlife conservation space, Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (globalhumane.africa). In addition, we work on international undertakings under the Global Humane Society brand.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.