Slovakia Approves Sale of Legal Bear Meat for Consumption
Bears currently under persecution in Slovakia to be made available for consumption - Bears hatched in Slovakia to be distributed for consumption by humans.
Slovakia is set to permit the consumption of brown bears that have been shot under specific conditions, following a proposal by Environment State Secretary Filip Kuffa. Critics have slammed the plan as turning the Environment Ministry into a butcher shop.
Kuffa contends that it's wasteful to dispose of shot bears in rendering plants and instead, they should be sold as edible meat. Officials from the Environment Ministry are now issuing licenses for the resale of legally shot bears to culinary establishments, upon the presentation of certificates confirming their legality.
The proposal has stirred up controversy, with liberal opposition MP Tamara Stohlova condemning the move as overstepping boundaries. Slovakia currently has around 1,300 free-roaming bears, which are generally protected year-round unless they pose a threat to humans. In recent years, there have been multiple incidents, some fatal, involving humans and bears.
In a bid to curb these attacks, the government decided in April to cull up to 350 so-called "problem bears." So far, only 23 have been killed in the culling efforts, led by the army. Kuffa, a vocal supporter of the controversial culling plans, announced these figures following the latest human-bear encounter.
The decision to sell bear meat has been met with skepticism and concern from environmental groups across Europe, who view it as a potential threat to conservation efforts and the bear population. However, the government has framed the policy as a means to address safety concerns related to bear attacks.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the Health-and-Wellness aspect of promoting responsible fitness-and-exercise practices, given the public debate surrounding the sale of legal bear meat in Slovakia. In light of the scientific evidence on the potential implications of this decision on the Slovakian bear population, the Commission is urged to advocate for the conservation of this endangered species, as part of its mandate to promote sustainable development and protect biodiversity.
