EU experience regarding communication with animal welfare stakeholders

EU experience regarding communication with animal welfare stakeholders Amman, 04 -06 October 2009 Friedhelm Jaeger, CVO, North-Rhine Westphalia / Germany

Animal welfare – what does it mean? § Is this animal welfare ? § Is this welfare oriented animal husbandry ? § Is this species-appropriate husbandry ?

Animal welfare – what does it mean? (II) EU = ethical value (Lisbon treaty: sentinent beings) (= „because of itself“) Ø instructions throughout the EU: → standardization → socio-economic value (trade) Ø reflection of the society and the generally consensus of values Ø permanent advancement → input of NGO‘s → influence of globalization

Animal welfare – what does it mean? (III) Economic aspects: ▪ husbandry → consumer expection ▪ animals for slaughter → meat quality ▪ laboratory animals → pharmaceutical research

Animal welfare – what does it mean? (IV) All questions concerning: - laws - cultural aspects - perceptions - and social aspects have to be considered in animal welfare The outcome of this leads to the essential question: Is it possible to talk about THE animal welfare?

= It does not exist THE only animal welfare But: a global concerted comprehension on the standards of animal welfare is necessary for a common ethical approach & successful and durable trade connections

OIE-guidelines: Aims: - to improve and to harmonize methods of production - science-based standards - no construction of trade barriers (no protectionism) - support of all nations foundation of bilateral contracts between the EU and third countries (import of animals & foods)

Standards on their own are only a first step OIE / EU NGOs Guidelines / Laws EU (action plan) implementation in assistance of NGOs

Animal welfare and NGO‘s § collaboration is important for: politics / administration consumer expections (reactions) („Mc Donald‘s“) § collective consensus of values (concept of sentience) also important for the market collective principles (international) (implicate NGO‘s; „Burger King“ [eggs; meat])

Animal welfare and NGO‘s § collaboration of: government, economy and NGO‘s § approximation of international / intercultural perceptions (globalization) § agreement on principles for ethical values & efficient trade relations => it`s just functional „together“ not „against“

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Example 1: WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) § global alliance of animal welfare organisations § 950 Member Organisations (150 countries) § aim: support the global implementation of OIE Standards § 2007: formal agreement with OIE § Evolution – not Revolution (cooperation)

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Example 2: Animals Angels § no gain § livestock transports, animal markets, slaughterhouses, … § § aim: claim of regulations and control of their compliance close collaboration with many institutions international work no sensationalism

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Example 3: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) § § worldwide greatest organization of animal rights charitable organization 2006: 187 employees against: factory farming, fur bearing animal husbandry and animal experiments § focus on sensationalism

Animal welfare – Collaboration with NGO‘s (examples) Animal welfare in livestock husbandry Animal welfare for animals for slaughter (transport) Animal welfare for animal experiments Animal welfare for the inspection

Animal welfare – Livestock husbandry (I) general requirements: 5 freedoms optimize husbandry conditions on focus of the NGO`s

Animal welfare – Livestock husbandry (II) NGO‘s announce: → grievances in the production of food → system immanent problems (i. e laying hens) customer reacts: boycott food industry reacts: phasing out of „critical“ products

Animal welfare – slaughtering (I) transport of animals for slaughter Animal welfare Standards must be understood and accepted in the daily work (world-wide)

Animal welfare – slaughtering (II) transport of animals for slaughter greatest attention by NGO‘s: - easy (official) to control and to document - distribution of grievances via internet, mass medias => great effect (trade & economy)

Animal welfare (III) transport of animals for slaughter Publicity !!!

Animal welfare – slaughtering (IV) transport of animals for slaughter grievances (shown by NGO‘s) Ø boycott of the products Ø challenge for the politics Ø influence of the trade connections

Animal welfare – slaughtering (V) Ø public & NGO‘s: critical (not „if“, but „how“) Ø optimization and transparency • • develop a link to NGO‘s → commissioner of animal welfare (impartial) → no „concealment“ • economic advantage because …

Animal welfare – slaughtering (VI) § consumers ask for animal products from: - welfare oriented animal husbandries and - welfare oriented handling / slaughtering § NGO`s = effect on the behaviour of the consumers

Animal welfare for laboratory animals § necessary for research § Focus of public interest commissioner of animal welfare: → „control“ → impartial → „interlink“ to other NGO‘s § governmental permission: assessment by ethics committees

Animal welfare and control (I) § NGO: QS = own (In house-) control system for food § (QS = „ensure quality“) § QS = 30 % of the criteria are concerning the animal welfare utilization for the governmental control system

Animal welfare and control (II) § QS-certification mark: - meat and sausage - fruits & vegetables § condition: compliance of the selected requirements across all stages of the production § 23 test criteria

Animal welfare and control (III) § official controls → risk oriented (targeted checks) § criteria - governmental „findings“ (offences, claims; risks) audits from QS Ø very efficient Ø transparency, confidence

Summary (I) Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) § impatial § take part in implementation and further development of the animal welfare § documentation and report about contraventions: force of governmental actions effect of trade connections

Summary (II) – „to do“ 1. establishment of collective basics ( - Ø international; intercultural Ø importance for the trade 2. NGO‘s: Ø development of principles Ø control; advise 3. transparency & collaboration )

Summary (III) – „to do“ 1. Standards at their own: Ø only 1. step Ø international; intercultural acceptance Ø opportunity for transparent information from farmer to consumer 2. Standards must be implemented (training schemes, visits…) : Ø OIE / EU /competent authorities Ø NGO‘s 3. step by step (togehter; win-win)

Thank you for your attention!