Mexico Advances Animal Welfare with Historic Constitutional Reforms

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed groundbreaking constitutional amendments on December 2nd, ushering in a new era for animal welfare in the country. For the first time, nonhuman animals are explicitly mentioned in Mexico‘s Constitution, a significant milestone in its animal welfare movement. These changes set the stage for a federal animal welfare law and could inspire similar initiatives in other countries.

Dulce Ramirez, executive director of Animal Equality Mexico, emphasized the importance of this development, calling it “huge.” The reforms were the result of a two-year campaign by organizations like Animal Equality Mexico, Humane Society International/Mexico, and Movimiento Consciencia. Unlike the brief and often vague mentions of animals in other nations’ constitutions, Mexico’s provisions are detailed and span multiple sections, giving them considerable weight.

The reforms update three articles of the Constitution, with Article 73 granting Congress the power to legislate on animal welfare nationwide. Previously, animal protection laws varied significantly across states, leading to inconsistent enforcement. While all Mexican states have some form of animal protection laws, only three currently include farmed animals. These constitutional amendments aim to fill those gaps by covering all animals, including livestock, wildlife, and companion animals.

One of the most notable changes is to Article 4, which prohibits mistreatment and mandates the protection and care of animals. Advocates like Ramirez view this as a meaningful step forward, particularly because it ensures farmed animals—often excluded in other legislation—are not overlooked. Moving forward, Mexico’s Congress has been tasked with drafting a General Law of Animal Welfare, which will outline specific protections for all animals, from laboratory subjects to farm animals.

The reforms also include an amendment to Article 3, which introduces animal welfare into the national education curriculum. By teaching young people about animal protection, advocates hope to foster lasting societal change. However, the specifics of how this will be implemented remain to be determined.

While the reforms are promising, challenges lie ahead. Mexico’s intensive animal agriculture industry is likely to push back against regulations that could affect their operations. Advocates are committed to ensuring the new federal law is comprehensive and effective.

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