WDA's ally push for a ban on horse meat consumption in Italy

Italy may soon ban the consumption of horse meat as part of a law that would define equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, as pets, making their slaughter illegal.

The bill was drafted by Michela Brambilla, a longtime ally of the WDA and a member of the "Noi Moderati" party, which is part of the ruling coalition led by Georgia Meloni and has the support of the opposition.

If the bill is passed, those who slaughter equines will face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to €100,000 (approximately £87,000).

Horse meat is traditionally part of Italian culinary culture, especially in regions such as Plia, Campania, Sicily, Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. Although consumption has declined significantly over the past decade, Italy remains one of Europe's largest importers and consumers of horse meat.

The bill also proposes mandatory microchip implantation, the establishment of a national monitoring system, and the creation of a €6 million fund to assist aquaculture operators in their transformation.

Brumbila stated, "We are in the 21st century, yet equines are still exploited in various ways. Horses, in particular… In English-speaking countries, eating horse meat is almost unthinkable, but in our country, this species is exploited to the extreme. However, friends should not be eaten."

She pointed out that the proposal is "an extraordinary opportunity to drive a cultural shift that is already deeply rooted in the hearts of most Italians."

However, not everyone agrees. Gianmarco Centinani, a far-right politician and former Minister of Agriculture from the League party and a member of the ruling coalition, stated that banning horse meat "is tantamount to erasing a part of Italian culinary history." Italian food culture was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list last December, "which also erases the identity of parts of the country... from horse meat stew in Verona and Salento to horse meatballs in Catania."

Dario Damiani of Forza Italia stated that the proposal failed to consider "the dietary traditions of many regions" and would damage "traditional economic chains" in these regions, putting businesses and jobs at risk.

The decline in horse meat consumption among Italians stems from cultural shifts and increased concern and empathy for animal ethics. A survey last year showed that 83% of Italians said they did not eat horse meat; 17% said they ate it at least once a month.