Animal welfare: International trade and livestock welfare
standards
Author: Prof Cheryl McCrindle
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Introduction
artificially high “standards” of animal health being used
The evolution of the various European Union (EU)
as trade barriers, particularly against the poorer
treaties among member countries has involved an
nations. However, there is a growing trend for
incremental inclusion of welfare norms, particularly for
international food companies to establish so called
livestock. In 2009, the EU Health commissioner,
“private standards”, thus forcing producers that do not
Androulla Vassiliou stated that
comply,
out
of
the
market.
The
International
Standardization Organisation (ISO), which has an
“Higher animal welfare standards offer the prospect of
official
a win-win situation for both consumers and producers.
commenced work on the development of technical
Consumers looking for welfare-friendly products can
specifications on animal welfare in 2012. These
more easily identify them, and producers applying
standards will be based on the OIE guidelines for
higher standards can market their products more
management, handling and slaughter of livestock.
cooperation
agreement
with
the
OIE,
effectively”.
Wildlife welfare, on the other hand, is being prejudiced
by lack of control in international trade, as illustrated by
the slaughter of rhinoceroses, elephants, tigers and
bears, as well as other endangered species for animalderived commodities such as horns, tusks and body
parts.
Trade barriers
The World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes the
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as the
Could welfare issues in the exporting country affect the trade
body responsible for the development of international
in meat products?
standards related to animal health and welfare. In turn,
OIE recognises a critical relationship between animal
The multilateral trade policy framework includes the
health and animal welfare. In regard to trade, the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and
Codex
developing
the World Trade Organization Agreements, specifically
international minimum standards to facilitate the
the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
“harmonization” of trade – in other words preventing
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and the
Alimentarius
assists
with
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT
The videos on the playlist “Welfare on Hub” can be
Agreement). These Agreements must be respected by
viewed, and will be discussed in the Welfare
WTO
modules.
Members
when
imposing
measures
on
international trade in animals and animal products.
Other relevant information
The GATT rules will not allow discrimination against
livestock products that are of equal quality, because
they come from a country with “low” animal welfare
 Animal welfare: How and why we measure animal
welfare in livestock and wildlife
 Animal
welfare:
standards. The SPS Agreement requires that SPS
development
measures be applied only to the extent necessary to
interface
protect human, animal or plant life or health and
clarifies the factors that should be taken into account in
the assessment of risk. Although animal welfare is
clearly influenced by animal health, it is not likely that
discrimination on the basis of “poor animal welfare”
would be upheld.
Illegal trade in wildlife products
It is ironic that while legal trade in harvested wildlife
products like ostrich meat, is constrained by SPS
agreements, the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn
flourishes.
The
Convention
on
Illegal
Trade
in
Endangered Species was signed over sixty years ago
yet in 2012 over 1000 elephants were slaughtered for
their ivory and the number increases annually.
Find out more
This
module
not
only
describes
the
regulatory
background to trade barriers linked to poor livestock
welfare, but also gives guidelines on private standards
that require welfare audits. The concerns of small scale
producers about the link between animal welfare and
trade/market access will be explored. The module also
describes effective and practical implementation by
state and private veterinarians and recording of
livestock welfare audits. Ways in which the illegal trade
in wildlife products could be controlled and prevented,
will also be discussed.
at
Animal
the
welfare
and
rural
human-livestock-wildlife
 Animal welfare: Infectious and production diseases
that compromise livestock/wildlife welfare
 Animal welfare: Livestock and wildlife welfare during
handling transport and slaughter.