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Ban Force-Feeding

Demand the Government bans imports of foie gras made my force-feeding - SIGN NOW!

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Ghastly ‘gavage’

Foie gras produced by force-feeding is immensely cruel and controversial. Production of this so-called ‘delicacy’ causes unimaginable suffering to millions of birds each year.

Animal Equality’s investigations show the horrific practices involved in ‘gavage’ - the force-feeding process where sensitive ducks and geese are brutally fattened up using a feeding tube that is forced down their throats.

These animals endure severe physical and psychological pain throughout their short lives.

The ruthless force-feeding process causes the birds’ livers to swell to ten times their natural size. The animal’s diseased liver is then sold and marketed as foie gras.

Forbid foie gras imports

The process of gavage (also known as force-feeding) is considered incompatible with the provisions of The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000, which later became The Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (2007), which is mirrored across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. By 2011, foie gras production was banned throughout the UK.

Over 250,000 Brits have supported our campaign calling for an end to foie gras imports. Various MP's are also supporting this landmark legislative ask, including Sir Mike Penning MP who put forward PMQs and created an Early Day Motion to support Animal Equality in October and November 2020.

It is currently enshrined in law that: ‘Animals shall be fed a wholesome diet which is appropriate to their age and species and which is fed to them in sufficient quantity to maintain them in good health, to satisfy their nutritional needs and to promote a positive state of well-being.’

And that: ‘No animals shall be provided with food or liquid in a manner, nor shall such food or liquid contain any substance, which may cause them unnecessary suffering or injury.’

We claim to be a nation of animal lovers, so why are we allowing such an abhorrent product to appear in our shops?

While we were disappointed that the ban on foie gras made by force-feeding was not included in the Queen's Speech in 2022, we will not give up. The public has made it clear that it demands a ban on this cruel product, and we will continue fighting for this to become a reality.

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The Case for a UK Ban on Foie Gras made by Force-Feeding

A year on from the release of Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill has now been written into UK legislation, a huge landmark victory for animals. However, further progress to improve animal protection has since stalled. A key piece of this puzzle that is currently at risk is the ban on foie gras made by force-feeding. The production of foie gras was outlawed in the UK decades ago, yet we still profit from and support the extreme animal cruelty involved by importing this product from other countries. This hypocrisy must end.

Animal Equality has been working for months on an important document to build a case for a UK ban on foie gras made by force-feeding.

Thanks to the collaboration of our specialists in law, campaigns and communications, we have published a report which investigates the public and political support for a ban on foie gras made by force-feeding.

The report also lays out the evidence gathered from scientific studies and Animal Equality’s investigations showing the suffering that the foie gras industry causes to millions of ducks and geese every year. It also looks back to historic progress in animal protection legislation to determine similar bans that pave the way for this one.

Through examining the evidence, while considering opinions from scientific experts, politicians and the public, one message is clear: the UK does not choose animal cruelty.

The question follows: will the Government listen to the public, or betray UK citizens as well as millions of animals?