ABOUT US
On behalf of all its members, the European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV) welcomes you to its website.
Who are we?
The European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV), established in 1952, serves as the voice of the EU's national federations representing livestock markets, traders (cattle, horses, sheep, pigs), meat traders (beef, horsemeat, lamb, pork), poultry meat importers and the broader meat industry—including slaughterhouses, cutting plants, and meat processing facilities.
UECBV brings together nearly 50 national and regional federations from across the European Union, as well as from countries such as Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Through its member federations, UECBV represents around 20,000 companies of all sizes and supports approximately 230,000 jobs across the sector.
Mission
UECBV's mission is to facilitate the development of an environment in which all EU livestock traders and meat companies (livestock markets, traders - cattle, horses, sheep, pigs-; slaughterhouses; cutting plants; meat preparation plants; meat wholetraders; importers and exporters) can meet the needs of consumers and society, while competing effectively for sustainable growth.
UECBV provides expertise based on scientific research, robust data management and effective communication, working within the regulatory framework.
UECBV promotes its members’ interests in areas such as agriculture, health and consumers, trade, industry and EU funded research projects, climate change and environment, competition, social affairs and customs union, indirect taxation.
How UECBV works
UECBV’s permanent secretariat, based in Brussels, maintains close contacts with European and international institutions and holds a key role in public consultations on all issues affecting Europe’s meat industry.
UECBV secretariat coordinates the work of its experts through in sections and committees tackling meat industry, international trade and livestock issues.
When required, an EU meat sector expert working group can draft a position paper on key issues which, once approved, are communicated to European and international decision-makers aiming at shaping legislative and non-legislative developments impacting on the industry.
UECBV addresses the EU meat sector interests through eight themes:
- agriculture,
- health and consumers,
- trade,
- industry and EU funded research projects,
- climate change and environment,
- competition,
- social affairs
- and customs union, indirect taxation.
History of the UECBV
The European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV) was founded in Switzerland in 1952 just one year after the 1951 Schuman plan. Its headquarters were settled in Strasbourg as a show of post war unity. UECBV’s general secretariat was opened in Brussels in 1980.
The six founding members of the UECBV were the livestock trade federations of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The UECBV celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022.