Recent legal developments show how governments are rethinking animal protection. The UK is strengthening welfare rules for crustaceans, prompting retailers to adopt more humane slaughter methods, while Mexico City has passed a law banning bullfights that harm or kill animals. In contrast, the EU has voted to reduce legal protections for wolves, highlighting tensions between conservation goals and agricultural interests. Together, these cases show that animal-related laws are shifting, but not always in the same direction.
These articles show that animal law is evolving, but in uneven ways. While some countries are expanding protections by recognizing animal suffering and limiting harmful practices, others are weakening conservation rules under political or economic pressure. This contrast suggests that global progress in animal welfare is real but still inconsistent and highly dependent on social and political priorities.
1. Co-op and prawn welfare（Financial Times）
Bentham, M. (2025, January 19). Co-op to stop selling suffocated prawns following welfare outcry. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/8f19519e-9f3b-4b03-
2. EU wolf protection vote（AP News）
Lawless, J. (2025, May 8). European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/3e0b269e283facd6c292b94985484f1a
3. Mexico City bullfight ban（People Magazine）
Lenthang, M. (2025, January 31). Mexico City votes to ban “violent” bullfight events that harm or kill animals. People. https://people.com/mexico-city-votes-to-ban-violent-bullfights-11699819
It makes me feel that real progress in animal welfare is happening, but it’s still slow and not consistent around the world.
返信削除I would like to hear more about what YOU think about such developments and changing legal landscape for animal protection. Do you think, for example, that it's going too far to create rules to protect crustaceans, such as lobsters? The more we learn about animals, the more we come to know that they are capable of experiencing pain and suffering, not unlike that of human beings. There's an ancient religion in India called "Jainism." Those who follow that religion take care not even to step on an insect in their path.
返信削除Although there are laws that seek to prevent excessive cruelty to animals in Japan, including farm animals, the enforcement of these laws and specific regulations for farm animal welfare, such as for space or slaughter practices, have been criticized as insufficient.
In my country, the US, things aren't much better. At the national level, there is no law that protects animals in agriculture from the time they're born or hatched until the time they are shipped off for slaughter. Just like in Japan, the few laws that exist, aren't well enforced. "Self-enforcement" is expected, and there's little incentive to do that.