EN / DE​ / FR​ / PL​ / ES​ / IT​ / IS

Stop the “hormone of misery” PMSG 

The 2021 documentary “Iceland – Land of the 5,000 Blood Mares” by Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) and Tierschutzbund Zürich (TSB) revealed the truth about a cruel business: 119 blood farms, more than 5,300 blood mares, more than 5,000 foals destined for the slaughterhouse. The only reason is to collect the blood product PMSG (eCG), a hormone obtained from the blood of pregnant mares. And why? Because that hormone is a booster for industrial animal farming. When used in female swine, the mother sows become pregnant faster, and synchronised. Their piglets are born almost at the same time. This facilitates the streamlining of all the process steps for the meat-producing pork industry: artificial insemination, birth, fattening, and slaughter.

Iceland is planning to increase the capacity for PMSG production to up to 20,000 blood mares. In figures, this means: up to 20,000 foals for slaughter as a “by-product”. Up to 30 % of all Icelandic horses would be blood mares. A requirement for pastures three times the size of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.

We want the production and use of the hormone of misery PMSG stopped altogether. No more horse blood for cheap pork. Step one: awareness must be raised among the public and pressure exerted on the Icelandic government. Please help us with your signature.

Update April 2025: 

A new investigation by Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) and Tierschutzbund Zürich (TSB) on Icelandic blood farms shows the systematic cruel treatment of horses during the production of the fertility hormone PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin). The organisations have been documenting the torture on these farms for years and the treatment of the animals has not improved at all.

The new footage from September 2024 collected on six blood farms shows the semi-wild mares being subjected to massive stress and pain during the blood collection process. The animals are beaten, poked with sticks and boards, and forcefully restrained. The mares are tethered in unnatural positions with their heads tied up high, which leads to an increased risk of injury, mainly to their sensitive neck area. 

In 2022, the pharma company Isteka was granted a licence to produce PMSG for another three years. Following a complaint by NGOs, the EFTA Surveillance Authority took action and issued a warning to Iceland. As a result of an EFTA infringement procedure, taking blood to obtain the fertility hormone PMSG has been considered an animal experiment in Iceland since November 2023. An animal experiment, however, can only be authorised if it is essential. However, under pressure from Isteka, the Icelandic veterinary authority MAST decided that the company's licence remains valid until October 2025.

Support us and demand a stop of the production of PMSG in Iceland. Show the Icelandic government with your vote that animal welfare matters more than the profit of a pharmaceutical company. Together we can end the production of PMSG.

Documentary films:
2025: Iceland's blood farms - Is the public being deceived about the blood business?
2023: PMSG - the hormone of misery | Good reasons for a ban
2023: Iceland: The hidden blood business
2021: Iceland – Land of the 5,000 Blood Mares

Supporting NGOs:
Anima, Denmark
Animal Justice, Canada
Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), Germany
Animals’ Angels Inc., USA
Ärzte gegen Tierversuche, Germany
Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, Canada
Compassion in World Farming, United Kingdom
Dier&Recht, Netherlands
Dublin SPCA, Ireland
Dýraverndarsamband Íslands (DÍS), Iceland
Dyrenes Beskyttelse/Animal Protection Denmark
Eurogroup for Animals, Brussels
Fundación Franz Weber, Spain/Argentina
Green REV Institute, Poland
IHP Italian Horse Protection Onlus, Italy
Samtök um dýravelferð á Íslandi (SDÍ)/Animal Welfare Iceland
Tierschutzbund Zürich (TSB), Switzerland
WELFARM – Protection mondiale des animaux de ferme, France

Learn more:
www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/en/projekte/blood-farms/iceland
www.animal-welfare-foundation.org/en/service/dossiers/production-of-pmsg-in-iceland