Produzione di foie gras nell’Unione europea e tutela del benessere animale: tra approcci di mercato e retaggi di euro-colonialismo culturale

The contribution investigates rules in international and EU law applicable in the context of production of foie gras arguing that, as of today, neither impose an overall and absolute production ban. The enduring possibility for some States to produce foie gras to the extent this is part of their cultural identity raises the issue of whether other States can lawfully limit imports. This investigation is conducted under the focal lens of EU law to highlight the limited margin within which States could effectively stop import of said product. In juxtaposing the specific solution reconstructed for foie gras the work concludes by raising the question of why some cultural identities prevail over animal protection whilst, in other circumstances, the solution is not necessarily the same.