Animal Liberation Malta activist Haroon Ali also said that “as vegans and also animal right activists our recommendations aim to ensure that animals and their needs are put on the political agenda.”

Together, they decided to present a list of recommendations to help make Malta more friendly towards veganism. 

1. Food

“The introduction of a meat and dairy tax should aim to help cover the real health and environmental costs (in terms of climate change) from using animals as food. Just as cigarettes have an excise duty on them so should meat and dairy.”

“Additionally, the same type of health warning that is found on cigarettes should be placed on red and processed meat and dairy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated red and processed meat as a carcinogen. Additionally, we all know that dairy is known to be a key trigger to cholesterol.”

“All plant-based milk should be at zero VAT, just as animal-based milk currently is.”

“State-owned public places like hospitals, aged care and disability services, prisons, schools, the defence forces and government-funded events should ensure that they offer proper plant-based options.”

“Additional catering establishments set in state-owned premises like the hospital that treat problems resulting from cholesterol should also offer plant-based milk alternatives.”

2. Agriculture

“A stop to new animal factory farms and additionally, farmers should be supported in transitioning out of animal agriculture into new sustainable plant-based agriculture.”

“The same farms that currently house maltreated animals can be developed into hydroponic farms that can help increase our food security.”

“The state should set up a fund to help new start-ups invest in the research & development of cultivated meat and plant-based meat alternatives.”

“Malta should also join a number of other EU countries that have banned fur farming.”

3. Animals

“No new zoo licences are to be issued. For a small island like Malta, there are already too many zoos. Additionally, there should be a ban on the sales and trade of exotic animals.”

“The phasing out of the old and antiquated practice of horse carriages within a 5 year period.”

“Every individual that wishes to keep an animal would require to apply for a licence per animal. The licence would require an examination on knowledge of how to care for the animal.”

“Rigorous research should be made when animal testing is applied to exhaust all possibilities for an alternative option and demand transparency in all that is going on.”

“Designating 50% of our territorial waters as a fishing free creating safe zones for marine life. Furthermore, all fishing nets should be microchipped making them identifiable and easy to locate when they are lost thus reducing the number of ghost nets that are indiscriminately killing marine life on the ocean bed.”

4. Education

“All health professionals should be given training on nutrition and the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Public awareness campaigns regarding the importance from a health and environmental perspective of increasing vegetables and fruits in one’s diet in reducing the risks of diabetes and cholesterol.”

What do you make of the vegan community’s suggestions?