The European Commission has decided not to relax animal health rules for pigeons despite requests from lawmakers and pigeon fanciers. MEP Hilde Vautmans argues that racing pigeons are not significant carriers of avian influenza and should be treated differently from other birds. The current regulations impose strict biosecurity measures on pigeon keepers, similar to those during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, indicated that any changes would require solid scientific evidence and would not compromise overall animal health. While Vautmans seeks exemptions for pigeon racing, the Commission believes current regulations are sufficient.