Press Release: 50,000 Signatures Against Animal Transport to War Zones Submitted to the EU Commission

While bombs are falling in the Middle East, EU Member States continue to export live animals to the region, with the European Commission (EC) refusing to be held accountable. Public outcry is growing: With the support of the Eurogroup for Animals, the French animal welfare organisation Welfarm, and the German NGO Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) have submitted a joint petition to the EC calling for an immediate halt to these transports. 

Almost 50,000 signatories are calling on the EU to instruct its Member States to no longer authorize animal transports to war and crisis zones in the Middle East. The joint petition sends a clear message: EU citizens are concerned that animals continue to be transported to regions where war is raging and basic safety conditions are lacking. 

“Animals are the forgotten victims of this war. It is irresponsible to continue transporting them to a region where bombs are falling and vital infrastructure is being destroyed,” says Maria Boada Saña, veterinarian and project manager for animal transport by sea at AWF.

War lingers on – transports continue

Since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran, the conflict has escalated into a regional war. Missile and drone attacks, military escalations, and maritime blockade have since affected various countries in the Middle East. Attacks on cities and infrastructure occur repeatedly, including in coastal regions and strategically important areas such as ports. 

Nevertheless, EU Member States continue to export live animals regularly to countries such as Israel or Lebanon—that is, precisely to those regions directly or indirectly affected by the war. 

“Anyone who transports animals to a war zone exposes them to incalculable risks. Yet the EU Animal Transport Regulation clearly states that animals must not be transported if they could be injured or suffer unnecessary distress in the process,” says Stéphane Boissavy, advocacy and campaign director at Welfarm.

EU Shifts Responsibility to Member States

Together with 24 partner NGOs, the two organisations co-signed an open letter to the European Commission, sent by Eurogroup for Animals, calling for Member States to be instructed immediately to ban the transport of animals to the war zone. The letter was left unanswered for almost two months, after which the organisations followed up by emphasising the urgent need for action. 

“In its disappointing response, the European Commission rejects a halt to animal exports to the zone of conflict despite the unstable situation”, says Susanna Blattner, farm animals project manager at Eurogroup for Animals. 

The EC claimed that current EU law does not provide for the possibility of suspending exports in general. Instead, the Commission has even asked Member States to support exporters by issuing replacement certificates in exceptional cases so that transports can continue despite “difficulties”. “At a time when the welfare of transported animals can no longer be guaranteed, facilitating the continuation of these exports sends the wrong signal. The Commission should prioritise the protection of animals and support the suspension of transports to conflict zones,” Susanna Blattner adds.

Animal transport during war is not compatible with EU law

Under EU law , animals may only be transported if their safety is guaranteed throughout the entire journey. In an active war zone, this is impossible. Bombings, destroyed infrastructure, blocked roads, or closed ports pose significant risks to transport. 

The case of an Indian-registered livestock carrier that recently sank off the coast of Oman shows that these risks are by no means hypothetical. According to media reports, the ship was struck by a bomb or a missile and sank with approximately 4,000 sheep and goats on board. Even though it was not a European vessel, the incident highlights the dangers to which European livestock transport vessels, their crews, and the animals on board are exposed in the region. 

Following the disappointing response of the Commission, the organisations asked for a meeting with their services (DG SANTE), to submit the petition and call on the European Commission to

• immediately instruct Member States to stop animal transports to the war zone; 
• strictly monitor ongoing transports and ensure emergency measures are in place; 
• urgently review the authorization process for exports to high-risk regions.

Earlier this week, the organisations welcomed the opportunity for an exchange with representatives of the European Commission on this urgent issue. However, while the discussion was valuable, the outcome fell short of expectations. The Commission maintained that the current legislative framework does not allow it to take action and that the decision to suspend these transports rests with the Member States. 

This situation highlights the structural issues related to live animal transports. This is why the organisations urge the Commission to support the inclusion of a ban of live animal exports to war zones in the revised Transport Regulation and to present a concrete plan to shift towards a trade in meat and carcasses. Evidence shows that this is a viable alternative  to the live transport sector. 

Since February 2026, more than 50 shipments of live animals have departed from European ports bound for destinations in the conflict zone (Eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea). The overwhelming majority were destined for Israel, while additional shipments were directed to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia.

Romania's port of Midia was by far the principal departure point for these shipments. Other exporting ports are mainly Raša (Croatia) and Sines (Portugal) but also Setúbal (Portugal), Koper (Slovenia), and Greenore (Ireland).

A total of 20 livestock vessels carried out these voyages. Some of them operated multiple rotations within a short timeframe (e.g. Finola M, Jersey, Julia L.S., Tuleen, Uranus II, Uranus III), indicating an ongoing and repeated trade pattern rather than isolated shipments.

Overall, despite the evolving conflict situation, the data suggests that live animal exports from the EU to the Middle East have continued at a steady pace during this period, including to high-risk destinations.

Download the press release here.