German animal welfare petition reaches record signatures

A petition launched by ten animal welfare organizations has reached a record number of signatures in Germany. Over 81,500 people signed the Bundestag petition within six weeks, more than double the amount required for the Petitions Committee to consider the matter.

The petition opposes the German federal government's plan to remove animal testing regulations from the existing Animal Welfare Act and consolidate them into a separate, independent law. Animal welfare advocates argue that this move would weaken the protection status of millions of animals in laboratories.

Organizers claim that separating these regulations could remove essential ethical and legal barriers against causing pain, suffering, or death to animals for economic reasons. They also express concern that the new law might weaken the approval process and reduce the ability to legally challenge the legitimacy of testing permits.