The Board of FEIF has again called on the Icelandic government to end the extraction of blood from pregnant mares for the production of the fertility hormone eCG, also known as PMSG and to ensure full compliance with EEA animal welfare legislation.

The hormone, used mainly in intensive pig breeding to regulate fertility and synchronise reproduction, is obtained by repeatedly collecting blood from pregnant mares kept on specialised farms in Iceland. The practice has raised growing ethical and animal welfare concerns and has attracted increasing international attention.

Following a complaint submitted by the Animal Welfare Foundation, the EFTA Surveillance Authority determined that the extraction of blood to obtain PMSG must be treated as an animal experiment under legislation implementing EU rules on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, and should not be used for for commercial or agricultural purposes

Advocates argue that alternatives to PMSG already exist and that continued reliance on pregnant mares risks undermining Iceland’s reputation for high animal welfare standards.