Dear Esteemed friend,
Thank you for signing our Change.org petition, "Ban Rabbit Meat Production in South Africa," and standing with us to protect rabbits! We currently have over 900 voices raised against the Draft Rabbit Meat Regulations.
Your support has been invaluable in raising awareness, but now we need your direct action to make an even greater impact, please. The deadline for formal submissions to the Department of Agriculture is fast approaching: 27 May 2025 - South African time 00:00. The regulations also discuss exporting rabbit meat, therefore all countries may be impacted.
An individual letter from you will carry significant weight with decision-makers. It shows personal commitment, supplements your petition signature and directly communicates your opposition.
Here’s how you can help in less than 5 minutes, thanks to our crafted letter, if you want to add a personal touch, feel free to finesse the letter.
Copy and Personalise Your Letter: We've drafted a sample letter below to save you time. Please copy it and add your name, city, and any personal touch (e.g., why rabbits are important to you as pets, your concerns about health risks).
Send Your Email: Email your letter to the following addresses:VPH@dalrrd.gov.za
Vet.Policy@dalrrd.gov.za
ministry@dalrrd.gov.za
(CC) Animal.Health@dalrrd.gov.za
Subject Line: COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT RABBIT MEAT REGULATIONS TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER THE MEAT SAFETY ACT 40 OF 2000
[Start of Sample Letter - Copy and Paste]
Subject: Urgent and Strong Opposition to Proposed Rabbit Meat Regulations - Protect Our Family Pets
Dear Director-General,
I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to the Draft Rabbit Meat Regulations published in Government Gazette No. 52384 on 28 March 2025. These regulations, if adopted, would permit the commercial slaughter of rabbits for human consumption, presenting severe risks to public health, animal welfare, and ethical values in South Africa.
Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal and are cared for by many households as treasured family members. Legalising their commercial slaughter would reduce these sentient animals to commodities and legitimise inhumane practices.
My key concerns are as follows:
Pervasive Zoonotic Disease Risks: Over 70% of rabbits in South Africa are infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi (EC), Pasteurella multocida, or Toxoplasma gondii. These diseases, along with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) and Tularemia, are directly transmissible to humans and other animals via raw or undercooked meat.
The booming raw rabbit dog food industry, moving over 10 tonnes per month of unregulated product, poses a significant additional public health threat. Farmers currently have no obligation to declare the health status of their rabbits, leading to diseased animals being sold into the food chain.
Lack of Veterinary and Regulatory Infrastructure: South Africa currently lacks crucial diagnostic tools such as PCR tests for EC and toxoplasmosis, and there are no rabbit-specific vaccines available (e.g., for Pasteurella). State veterinarians cannot test for these diseases in most areas, rendering effective disease surveillance impossible. This absence of infrastructure exacerbates the risks of zoonotic outbreaks and compromises public health.
Severe Animal Welfare Violations: Industrial rabbit farming inherently involves housing rabbits in tiny, overcrowded cages where they cannot stand or move naturally, exposing them to ammonia, filth, disease, and trauma. Proposed slaughter methods, including gassing and violent neck-breaking, are inherently inhumane and often unverified. Such cruelty is incompatible with South Africa’s animal protection commitments.
Environmental Degradation: Intensive rabbit production contributes to significant ammonia emissions, water pollution, and greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O). Furthermore, power outages and water scarcity in South Africa make humane, traceable, and safe slaughter practices impossible, posing risks of ecological damage and widespread contamination.
Ethical Inconsistencies & Imposed Commercial Interest: Rabbits are sentient, intelligent animals and beloved pets to many. Their rebranding as a meat commodity without public consent represents a profound ethical inconsistency. There is no genuine public demand for rabbit meat; this is an imposed commercial interest that poses risks without addressing actual food security needs.
I urge the Department to recognise these severe, demonstrable risks and withdraw these regulations in their entirety. Instead, I call on the Department to support ethical, sustainable agricultural innovation that does not compromise public health, animal welfare, or South Africa’s moral standing.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this critical matter.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Full Name] [City, Country] [Organisation, if applicable]
[End of Sample Letter]
Thank you for making the time to make a change for rabbits
Every email makes a difference! Your voice is crucial in protecting rabbits and ensuring a more compassionate future for South Africa. Please take a moment to send your letter before 27 May 2025.
Please do continue sharing this campaign with friends, family, work colleagues, and on all your social media streams.
Thank you also to the individuals who donated and commented. Many organisations are making submissions to South Africa, and your comments are welcome. We will keep fighting this, so stay tuned to our social media pages:
Website: https://hoptosaverabbits.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hop-to-save-rabbits/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Hop2saverabbits
Thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
The Hop to Save Rabbits Team