Italy: Brambilla's bill proposes ban on horse slaughter and threatens palio tradition

A bill has been submitted to the Italian parliament that could completely change the status of horses, donkeys, and mules. The initiator of the controversial proposal is Michela Vittoria Brambilla, an MP from the Noi Moderati party. The bill aims to classify these animals as companion animals, which would radically change their treatment. The main and most widely discussed point is a complete ban on slaughtering horses for meat. The bill also prohibits the production, marketing, import, and export of horse meat and derived products on Italian territory. Brambilla argues that „I cavalli sono amici dell'uomo e non una materia prima” (Horses are man's friends and not a raw material.) — Michela Vittoria Brambilla. The relationship of Italians with horses is historically ambivalent. For centuries, these animals were crucial for agriculture, transport, and the military, and their meat was a source of protein, especially during periods of poverty. At the same time, the cult of the horse as a noble and faithful companion is deeply rooted in art and literature. The contemporary horse meat market in Italy, although niche, has strong regional traditions, especially in the north of the country. The second pillar of the bill are restrictions on the use of horses in cultural and tourist events. The law prohibits the organization of events, including historical and folkloric ones, if they endanger the life or health of the animals. In practice, this would hit world-famous palio races, such as the one in Siena. The ban would also cover the use of horses to pull tourist carriages, the so-called "botticelle," in Rome. The bill has met with an immediate and fierce reaction from the political right. MEP Carlo Picaro from the Fratelli d'Italia party warned that the ban cannot be seen as a simple national choice, as it interferes with an entire economic sector regulated by European Union law. In his view, the de facto elimination of this sector would pose a serious problem for the principles of the single market. Criticism from the League took an even sharper tone. The party's rapporteur for the bill, Paolo Formentini, called Brambilla's proposal "racist" towards regional culinary traditions. This controversial statement points to a deeper conflict between animal protection and the defense of cultural heritage. The discussion touches on the gastronomic identity of many regions, where horse meat is an ingredient in traditional dishes, such as pesto di cavallo from Parma or pastissada de caval from Verona. Key changes proposed in the bill: Legal status of horses: Farm/working animals → Companion animals (animali d'affezione); Slaughter for meat: Permitted in regulated slaughterhouses → Completely banned; Participation in palio/risky events: Permitted with some restrictions → Banned if there is a health/life threat; Sale of horse meat: Legal in shops and restaurants → Banned (production, import, sale) The debate around the bill reveals a deep social divide. Supporters of the changes, including animal rights organizations, see it as a necessary and progressive step in the evolution of social sensitivity. Opponents emphasize the threat to consumer choice, the destruction of jobs in the breeding and processing sector, and an attack on local traditions that are part of Italian identity. The future of the bill is uncertain, but its mere submission has already ignited a heated discussion about the limits of animal protection and the extent to which the state can interfere in the sphere of culture and customs.