OIE Adopts First-Ever Global Animal Welfare Standards |
 |
June 8, 2005
The World Organization for Animal Health unanimously adopted animal welfare standards in four categories during its May meeting in Paris, a landmark decision that's believed to be the first time an international body has formally endorsed regulations regarding such activities as animal transportation and slaughter.
The 167 member nations that comprise the organization, known by its French acronym OIE, adopted standards in four areas: the live transport of animals by land, the live transport of animals by sea, the slaughter of animals for food, and the slaughter of animals to prevent the spread of disease. The International Coalition of Farm Animal Welfare (ICFAW), a permanent working group of the OIE on which The HSUS has a representative, worked to develop these standards and is expected to draft additional animal welfare standards in the future.
The new standards provide a framework of dos and don'ts for, among others, animal transporters, slaughterhouse operators, state veterinarians, and even those who construct facilities that house, transport or slaughter animals. The regulations cover important animal welfare issues such as proper stunning techniques, the proper amount of rest for animals during transport, and the proper composition of a disease-control emergency team. All the standards are voluntary for OIE member nations.
"These standards could potentially affect billions of farm animals each year," said Miyun Park, director of The HSUS's Farm Animal Welfare section and the organization's representative on ICFAW. "Animals raised for meat, eggs and milk suffer during confinement, transport, and slaughter; these standards will go a long way toward relieving their suffering. The fact that the 167 member countries all agreed to this point clearly demonstrates an international understanding that all animals deserve humane treatment."
The Standards
The OIE recently released a 73-page document detailing the standards in each of the four areas. Among the rules:
-
"Under no circumstances should animal handlers resort to violent acts to move animals, such as crushing or breaking animals’ tails, grasping animals’ eyes or pulling them by their ears" when moving animals to slaughter.
-
These are among the restraint methods that slaughterhouses should avoid because they cause "severe pain and stress": suspending or hoisting animals (other than poultry) by the feet or legs; indiscriminate and inappropriate use of stunning equipment; and breaking legs, cutting leg tendons or blinding animals in order to immobilize them.
-
"If journey duration is such that feeding or watering is required or if the species requires feed or water throughout, access to suitable feed and water for all the animals carried in the vehicle should be provided. There should be adequate space for all animals to move to the feed and water sources and due account taken of likely competition for feed."
-
When traveling by sea, "each pen of animals should be observed on a daily basis for normal behavior, health and welfare, and the correct operation of ventilation, watering and feeding systems. There should also be a night patrol. Any necessary corrective action should be undertaken promptly."
-
"When animals are killed for disease control purposes, methods used should result in immediate death or immediate loss of consciousness lasting until death; when loss of consciousness is not immediate, induction of unconsciousness should be non-aversive and should not cause anxiety, pain, distress or suffering in the animals."
"It's our hope that member countries without farm animal welfare laws will use the standards as a basis of legislation," said The HSUS's Park. But, she added, even in countries with animal welfare laws, the standards should inspire even stronger protections for farm animals.
A Hearty Thanks
The HSUS reported in April on the OIE's pending vote and asked you to contact the United States' OIE representative and urge him to support the organization's efforts to develop animal welfare standards. Now we'd like to ask you to send a letter of thanks to Dr. Peter Fernandez for supporting these global standards on behalf of farm animals.
Write to:
Dr. Peter Fernandez
President of the OIE Regional for the Americas
Associate Administrator
USDA-APHIS
Room 314-E
J.L. Whitten Federal Building
Washington, D.C. 20250-3432
And if you haven't already, you can help ensure a humane slaughter for birds by signing our Petition for Poultry, which seeks to get chickens, turkeys and other birds covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. These animals represent 95% of all land animals killed for food in the United States.
See the Video
Petition for Poultry
Related Links
Handle with Care: Urge the OIE to Adopt Farm Animal Transport Standards
Help Secure Basic Protection for Billions of Birds: Sign the Petition for Poultry
