Law defines animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets and is backed by opposition parties
Italy could soon ban horse meat as part of a law that would define equine animals such as horses, donkeys and mules as pets, making it illegal to kill them.
The bill has been drafted by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a politician with Noi Moderati, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, and is backed by opposition parties.
If approved, it would impose jail terms of up to three years and fines of up to €100,000 (£87,000) for the slaughter of equines.
Horse meat has traditionally been part of Italian cuisine, especially in Puglia, Campania, Sicily, Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. Even though consumption has declined significantly over the past decade or so, Italy remains one of the largest importers and consumers of the meat in Europe.
