Petition handed over in Iceland – now it's up to the government!

Together with partner organisations, we handed over petitions with a total of 300,000 signatures to Icelandic Minister of Industry Hanna Katrín Friðriksson on Monday, calling for an end to cruel blood farms. We also submitted your signatures.

The licence of the pharmaceutical company Ísteka, which takes blood from pregnant mares to produce the fertility hormone PMSG, expired at the beginning of the month. Now the Icelandic government must decide whether to renew the licence or finally put an end to this cruel blood trade.

Our message is clear:

• The blood collection is cruel, the mares and their foals suffer
• The blood collection violates applicable law
• The blood collection damages Iceland's international reputation

To show the Icelandic government the suffering behind the blood farms, we came up with something special: we placed five-litre canisters filled with fake blood in front of the parliament building. That's 40 litres of blood – and it equals the amount taken from a single mare during one ‘blood season’. For the small Icelandic horses, this loss of blood is a great physical strain. 

Now it is up to the government to take responsibility and finally put animal welfare above profit! Thank you to everyone who signed and supported our campaign – you have all sent a strong message on behalf of the horses!

Thank you very much for your support and best regards,
Animal Welfare Foundation e.V.