Is welfare key for success in the global poultry market?

A lack of animal welfare legislation is among factors keeping poultry and other livestock producers in developing countries out of international markets, a team of experts has concluded.

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Run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the U.K., the Freedom Food welfare assurance and leveling scheme has been running for more than 20 years and has a membership in excess of 3,000 members across farming and food production.
Run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the U.K., the Freedom Food welfare assurance and leveling scheme has been running for more than 20 years and has a membership in excess of 3,000 members across farming and food production.

A lack of animal welfare legislation is among factors keeping poultry and other livestock producers in developing countries out of international markets, a team of experts has concluded.

Animal welfare continues to grow in importance in developing markets, with consumers and retailers becoming ever more demanding. Adopting and implementing high welfare standards could help producers in countries where there is no established welfare framework gain a greater share of international trade, as the way in which animals are cared for becomes an increasingly important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions across more markets.

A recently published study conducted by the FAO’s Investment Centre and development bank the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) argues that, in many countries, this lack of an adequate legislative framework and/or poor implementation of animal welfare practices cause economic losses and is preventing access to remunerable markets where animal welfare is already in place. Without action, the position of poultry and other livestock producers is likely to further deteriorate.

The study, the first in a series by the two bodies, looks at legislative and private sector initiatives, as well as legislation in force and its implementation in several developed and developing countries, and concludes that meat producers in the developing world benefit from recognized animal welfare standards.

Carmen Bullon, a legal officer with FAO’s Development Law Branch, says: “Many countries are missing opportunities because they don’t have sufficient legislative frameworks in place or they are unable to enforce good animal welfare practices.”

Legislation and training

Capacity development, the report’s authors argue, is therefore necessary to assist these countries to develop proper legislative provisions and to help food businesses to implement animal welfare practices wherever necessary.

Given that animal welfare is being linked increasingly to trade and market access, the FAO and other agencies could help to develop capacity in lower-income countries so that producers and industries in these countries are better positioned to participate in trade.

Capacity development is also needed so that small- and medium-scale producers are not put at a competitive disadvantage compared with large, industrialized producers who may find it much easier to work to standards in target markets.

The report argues that any capacity building needs to involve three elements: 

  1. Advocacy and education to create awareness of animal welfare and an understanding of its significance for successful animal production
  2. Engagement to invest and foster active involvement of people who work in the livestock or food sectors
  3. Training in specific procedures 

Additionally, producers could be encouraged to communicate and share resources, so increasing their ability to implement guidelines or standards and reducing production and transportation costs, as well as enabling them to market larger quantities of products.

As an initial step, animal welfare should be integrated into, and contribute to, existing development programs in areas such as health and nutrition, as well as livestock and food industry development, the report’s authors argue. Subsequently, more specific investments and capacity development activities should be put in place.

Route to follow

Developing countries, however, are not without some existing guidelines to follow. For example, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has adopted recommendations on the on-farm welfare of beef cattle and broiler chickens.

Additionally, it already has recommendations on the welfare of all farm animals during transport and slaughter, and is planning to develop more species-specific legislation.

The OIE entered the animal welfare arena as part of its Strategic Plan 2001-05, and inaugurated its first Animal Welfare Group in 2002, publishing welfare guiding principles in its Terrestrial Code in 2004. Yet, despite the passing of a decade, the implementation of the OIE’s recommendations remains poor in many member countries, and this is particularly, although not exclusively, the case in the developing world.

In determining standards, there are several existing examples that development agencies can draw upon in determining an appropriate level of animal welfare when investing in projects or providing advice.

One possible starting point is EU legislation which, the authors say, in general, provides a reasonably satisfactory level of welfare. Another might be the UK’s Freedom Foods scheme, which takes a more ambitious and comprehensive approach, not only setting high standards, but containing detailed practical guidance for producers. 

Growing consumer demand

While still to different extents, consumers throughout the world want assurances that the meat they are buying is safe to eat, nutritious and of good quality. Alongside these demands, there is a growing public interest in stricter welfare standards in farming, evidenced by the growing policy debate, and drawing up and introduction of new legislation, and independent industry initiatives.

Animal welfare legislation is increasingly featured in bilateral trade agreements. In their review of welfare legislation across several countries, the authors found that, while legislation in non-EU countries is less comprehensive and detailed, and that many countries that have legislation struggle with its implementation, where countries are candidates for membership, legislation has been aligned to EU standards to meet entry requirements.

With animal welfare an increasingly important issue in international trade, it is increasingly relevant to governments and agribusinesses that want to access a wider market, said the EBRD’s Nadia Petkova.

“If they want to begin exporting to the EU, then their food products must meet a strict set of standards related to food quality and food safety, the care and treatment of animals and the environment,” she said.

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