Animal Testing

India

This year, not only did India ban cosmetic animal testing within the country, but it also became the first country in Asia to ban the importation of such products.

USA

Effective January 1, 2015, the use of live animals in many military medical training programs will be halted.

Farm Animals

Canada

This year, the National Farm Animal Care Council introduced a new Code of Practice that essentially bans the lifelong confinement of pigs in gestation crates, or confinement systems so small that the animals are unable to turn around.

Worldwide

Nestlé, the world’s largest food maker, became the first major food company to enter into a global partnership with an animal welfare NGO (World Animal Protection). Its new animal welfare initiative aims to make several significant improvements for farm animals used within its global supply chain.

Wildlife

Norway, the Netherlands and Mexico

All three countries became part of a global movement to approve either a partial or total ban on wild animals in circuses this year. For a more comprehensive list of such bans, visit Animal Defenders International.

Worldwide

We’ve recently learned news that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is working on a Global Strategy for Animal Welfare.

Declared by the United Nations, World Wildlife Day was celebrated around the world for the first time, bringing global awareness to the need to protect vulnerable species.

Animal Sentience Victories

Argentina

In a landmark legal ruling for an orangutan, a court in Argentina ruled that the animal was entitled to basic legal rights, including the right to freedom from captivity in a zoo. We will be watching as similar cases are brought elsewhere in the world.

Legislative, Regulatory and Constitutional Victories

China and Thailand

Both countries recognized animal welfare in legislation for the first time.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The Appellate Body of the WTO upheld the EU’s ban on seal products on moral grounds.

Egypt

Egypt ratified a constitutional provision that includes animal welfare.

Humane Education Victories

This year, Kenya achieved a victory for the animals in integrating animal welfare into its national curriculum.

We are happy to say that these victories are only a short list of countless other positive achievements for animals in 2014 around the world. We’re looking forward to even more good news in 2015!