From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 6, 2026
Animal rights groups call on European Commission to suspend export of live animals to Mideast during Iran war
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
A broad coalition of international animal rights groups has rallied to support a call on the European Commission, initiated by Israel Against Live Shipments, to suspend the exports of live animals to the Middle East for the duration of the ongoing war against Iran.
Israel Against Live Shipments releases a letter signed by 25 organizations, including itself, to the EC’s Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Varhelyi.
The letter points to Iranian attacks on Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia, all destinations for EU calves and lambs that are fattened on arrival for later slaughter.
It refers to the last round of fighting between Iran and Israel in June 2025, during which Iranian missiles struck close to ships at the port in Haifa, northern Israel, during the unloading of animals from the European Union, “forcing workers to seek shelter and leaving animals stranded mid-operation.”
“Transporting animals into an active or potentially expanding conflict zone presents an unacceptable and unnecessary risk for animals and humans,” the letter adds.
Citing an EC council regulation specifying that no animal should be transported in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering, the letter notes that Israel has certified a slaughterhouse in Portugal where the animals could be slaughtered and their meat brought into Israel.
The Times of Israel Community.