The European Union is considering the development of unified animal welfare standards for the film industry. Currently, regulations vary across member states, leading to inconsistent protection for animals used in film shoots.
Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union recognizes animals as sentient beings, mandating consideration of their welfare in EU policies. However, no specific EU directive currently exists to regulate animal use in the film industry.
The aim is to establish a consistent framework across the EU, covering cinema, television, and advertising productions. This would ensure a unified standard of animal protection and a supervisory mechanism.