Turkey - Protest letter, drafted by CIWF

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Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:25:58 -0000 "hecal_2000" <hecal_2000Re: Chicken buried alive - Protest letter, drafted by CIWFBelow is a draft letter which can be sent to the Turkish embassy in your country as well as to the Turkish OIE delegate, Dr Nihat Pakdil Dr Nihat Pakdil Director GeneralMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs General Directorate of Protection and Control Esat Caddesi. No 3 - 06100 Bakanliklar Ankara For a briefing on avian flu please consult CIWF's web page on: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/home/Avian%20Flu%20Concern%20Page.htm==============================DearI write on behalf of Compassion in World Farming to urge the Turkish government to ensure that avian influenza outbreaks are managed swiftly, efficiently and humanely. Turkey has agreed, as a member country of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to comply with the OIE's guidelines on Humane Killing for Disease Control. As the leading EU-based farm animal welfare organisation, we urge that effective planning and sufficient resources now be provided in order to ensure that any necessary culling is organised, with priority given to both public health and animal welfare. Repeatedly in the last week, media images of the management of avian influenza in Turkey have shown birds alive after being placed in bags, and live birds placed in with dead ones. This is in contravention of the OIE's guidelines, which require humane methods of killing to protect the animals from pain and distress. Animals should be killed instantly or stunned prior to being killed and remain unconscious until death. Professional veterinarians are required to oversee animal welfare aspects of the disease management plans and all staff must be trained and competent in humane slaughter, with appropriate equipment available.The need for veterinary oversight and clearly planned culls is not just an issue for animal welfare. Uncontrolled culling is recognised by reputable scientific committees, such as the European Food Safety Authority's Animal Health and Welfare Panel, as being likely to increase risk of disease transfer. Thus burying or burning of live birds should be absolutely prohibited for both animal and public welfare reasons. Handling of infected birds by the public without biosecurity measures and protective clothing will increase risk of avian influenza transmission, leading to major public health issues and potential for human deaths. In conclusion, Compassion in World Farming asks that sufficient resources and skilled personnel are provided to ensure that avian influenza outbreaks are managed swiftly, efficiently and humanely, within the agreed OIE guidelines on humane killing for disease control. The spotlight of the world is focused on Turkey's management of this crisis and we urge you to fulfil your obligations to minimise both animal and human suffering caused by this disease.Yours sincerely,Attachments:Print docs found at http://www.ciwf.org/publications/media_briefs/Media_Briefing_flu_slaughter.pdfhttp://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mcode/en_chapitre_3.7.6.htm