World Organisation for Animal Health adopts first ever global standards for farm animal welfare

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World Organisation for Animal Health adopts first ever

global standards on farm animal welfare

 

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the world's

largest federation of animal welfare organisations, today welcomed

the adoption of the first ever global standards for farm animal

welfare by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The

standards, which focus on transport and slaughter, were adopted by

consensus by 167 countries at a conference taking place in Paris this

week. WSPA expects this to be just the start of further guidelines

that the OIE will issue to protect the welfare of farm animals.

 

Dr David Wilkins MRCVS MBE, WSPA's Chief Veterinary Advisor, said,

" WSPA is extremely pleased to see the OIE embrace animal welfare

through these standards and we encourage countries to put these

standards into practice. This marks a new dawn for the welfare of

billions of farm animals around the world as it is now globally

recognised at government level that cruelty to farm animals is

unacceptable. "

 

Around the world, billions of farm animals are transported live every

year by land and sea over long distances and often under inhumane

conditions, only to be slaughtered upon arrival. Inhumane handling

during loading and unloading and inhumane slaughter is observed in

many parts of the world. The new standards lay out minimum conditions

advised by the Chief Veterinary Officers of 167 governments. Areas

of particular significance include:

 

o Animals to be able to lie down comfortably and stand

naturally when transported

o Painful procedures (including whipping, tail twisting, use of

nose twitches,

pressure on eyes, ears or external genitalia), or the use of

unsuitable goads or

other aids (such as sticks with sharp edges, metal piping,

fencing wire or

heavy leather belts) should not be used to move animals.

o Drivers transporting animals must be trained in the humane

handling of farm

animals.

o When animals are killed for disease purposes (such as for

avian flu or foot

and mouth disease), methods should result in immediate death and should

not cause anxiety, distress, pain or suffering to the animal.

 

The OIE is an intergovernmental organisation, whose animal health

standards are recognised as a global reference by the World Trade

Organsiation. OIE has now taken up a key role as the leading

intergovernmental organisation on animal welfare due to its close

relationship with animal health. -ends-

 

For more information contact WSPA media office +44 (0)20 7587 5000

 

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