The Legal Form of Animals in Global Value Chain Law - And what it says about how law constructs the social condition

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ('The Charter') does not mention animals. The ignoring or downplaying of animals is however a general feature of EU law including in the area what might be called 'global value chain law' (GVC Law), a central part of contemporary economic law. Animals do not enjoy a particular or special status and are not given a particular legal form in GVC Law. An insight which allows for deeper reflections on how law has observed both animals and humans throughout history as the difference in status between animals and humans might be smaller than often assumed. This again allows for recasting the concept of social condition produced through law and legal techniques.