Horse meat leads to jail: Italy prepares new law
20 February 06:33
Italy is preparing significant changes to legislation that could completely ban the consumption of horse meat. The country’s government has drafted a bill that equates horses, donkeys, and mules with domestic animals, which means banning their slaughter and use in the food industry.
This was reported by the British publication The Guardian, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
What the new law on the ban on horse meat provides for
According to the bill, horses, donkeys, and mules are to be officially recognized as domestic animals. This means that they cannot be used for meat production.
If the law is passed, severe penalties will be imposed:
- criminal liability;
- imprisonment;
- fines of up to €100,000;
- a ban on the production and sale of horse meat.
The initiative has already received broad support from both the ruling coalition and opposition parties.
Italy is the largest importer of horse meat in Europe
Italy is the European leader in terms of horse meat imports and production.
This type of meat is traditionally used in the cuisine of several Italian regions, including:
- Puglia;
- Campania;
- Sicily;
- Lombardy;
- Veneto;
- Emilia-Romagna.
In these regions, horse meat is part of the national culinary tradition.
Why Italy decided to ban horse meat
The main reason for the legislative changes is animal welfare and a change in society’s attitude towards horses.
Over the past decade, horse meat consumption in Italy has decreased significantly.
According to sociological surveys:
- 83% of Italians do not eat horse meat at all;
- only 17% of citizens eat it at least once a month.
This indicates a significant change in the eating habits of the population.
The law may affect farmers and traditional cuisine
Opponents of the bill point to possible economic consequences.
In particular:
- farms may lose part of their income;
- producers will be forced to change their business models;
- some traditional dishes may disappear from menus.
Some politicians point out that Italian cuisine has recently been recognized as a UNESCO cultural heritage, and the ban could affect its authenticity.
Horse meat may disappear from Italian shops and restaurants
If the law is passed, Italy will become one of the first European countries to completely ban the production and consumption of horse meat.
This decision could set a precedent for other European countries, where there is also growing attention to animal welfare and changes in the population’s eating habits.
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