Global Conference on Animal Welfare: an OIE Initiative
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Global conference on animal welfare: an OIE initiative Paris, 23–25 February 2004 PROCEEDINGS The views expressed in this document are solely the responsibility of the authors and may not, under any circumstances, be regarded as stating an official position either of the Commission of the European Communities or of the Office international des épizooties. Corrigendum Readers should note that in this CD-ROM version of the conference proceedings, as compared to the already published hard-copy (ISBN 92-894-6614-6), an additional paper by Dr. F.A. Abiola entitled "Transport and slaughter of animals: current constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa" is presented, as well as a modified version of Dr. A.B.M. Raj's paper "Cultural, religious and ethical issues". Consequently, there is no correlation between the pagination of the two published versions. Full information about the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and its activities can be reached at www.oie.int or by addressing requests to [email protected]. General information is also available by calling directly at (33-1) 44 15 18 88 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2004 © European Communities, 2004 © Office international des épizooties, 2004 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Italy PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER The contribution of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission in the organisation of the ‘Global conference on animal welfare’ is gratefully acknowledged. The realisation of the ‘Global conference on animal welfare’ has also been made possible thanks to the contribution of the governments of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. Contents Foreword. VIII Committee members . X Setting the scene B. Vallat The OIE — Historical and scientific background and prospects for the future . 3 A. B. Thiermann The OIE process, procedures and international relations . 6 A. C. D. Bayvel The OIE animal welfare strategic initiative — Progress, priorities and prognosis . 12 Global animal welfare challenges: Some perspectives J. D. Edwards The role of the veterinarian in animal welfare — A global perspective . 24 L. R. Estol Animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum . 33 El bienestar de los animales, un currículum para su enseñanza en las facultades de veterinaria . 46 D. B. Wilkins The expectations of the international animal welfare movement . 62 E. Stamper Animal transportation — An industry perspective . 68 K. H. Brown A marketplace perspective . 70 R. Quintili Consumer concerns for animal welfare: from psychosis to awareness . 83 S. A. Rahman Animal welfare: a developing country perspective . 90 F. A. Abiola Transport and slaughter of animals: current constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa . 108 Transport et abattage des animaux: les contraintes actuelles en Afrique subsaharienne . 114 Applying science to animal welfare D. Fraser Applying science to animal welfare standards . 122 P. Le Neindre Space, environmental design and behaviour: Effect of space and environment on animal welfare . 134 Global conference on animal welfare: an OIE initiative V Contents J. A. Mench Management, handling and transport of farm animals . 147 I. J. H. Duncan Pain, fear and distress . 160 B. Algers Injury and disease . 176 A. B. Lawrence Food, water and malnutrition: perspectives on nutrient requirements for health and welfare in farm animals . 185 Areas of practical application H. Wyss Animal welfare: between profit and protection . 201 T. Håstein Animal welfare issues relating to aquaculture . 212 The way forward A. B. M. Raj Cultural, religious and ethical issues . 225 D. J. Mellor The application of legislation, scientific guidelines and codified standards to advancing animal welfare . 237 Closing remarks A. C. D. Bayvel The OIE animal welfare strategic initiative — The way forward . 249 B. Vallat Formal closure . 251 Appendices Appendix I Conference programme . 254 Appendix II List of participants . 258 Appendix III Reports of discussion groups: — Land transport . 299 — Sea transport . 300 — Killing for disease control purposes . 302 — Slaughter of animals for human consumption . 303 — Animal welfare research . 305 — Animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum . 306 — Communication challenges in animal welfare . 307 VI Global conference on animal welfare: an OIE initiative Contents — Issues concerning animal welfare and international trade, companion animals, wildlife . 308 Appendix IV The OIE in summary . 310 Global conference on animal welfare: an OIE initiative VII Foreword It was an honour and a privilege for the Office international des épizooties (OIE) to welcome to this global conference on animal welfare so many distinguished government officials, the chief veterinary officers of numerous OIE member countries and their delegations, eminent scientists, and private sector professionals working in the production, processing and distribution of ani- mal products, as well as numerous animal welfare activists and members of the public keen on the worldwide promotion of new rules on the relationship between humans and animals. The OIE, as the World Organisation for Animal Health, is proud to have received a unanimous mandate from its 166 member countries to become the leading international organisation in the field of animal welfare. How has this situation come about? The OIE was created in 1924, thus before the United Nations Organisation, by 28 countries. These countries were seeking international cooperation to try to bring an end to the outbreaks of serious diseases that were ravaging their livestock. They wanted a mutual undertaking whereby infected countries would inform the others in the event of an animal health emergency so that they could take protective action. They also wanted information on the most effective methods to combat these devastating animal diseases. Today, these objectives of providing sanitary and scientific in- formation in the veterinary field still feature among our organisation’s priority missions, in terms of diseases affecting animals alone and also those transmissible to humans. In 1994, the agreements that led to the creation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) made specific provisions for the management of sanitary and phytosanitary problems (SPS agree- ment) relating to the risks posed by commodities in international trade. At that time, a consen- sus was reached that member countries’ own legislation to protect against the introduction of pathogens should be science-based and avoid imposing unjustified sanitary barriers as a hidden form of trade protection. The OIE’s standards, guidelines and recommendations were then des- ignated as the international reference in the field of animal diseases and zoonoses. The OIE was chosen notably due to the fact that its standards are exclusively science-based. As the implementation of these standards can pose a problem for developing countries, the OIE acts out of solidarity with them by supporting the efforts they have made in animal disease surveillance and control aimed at reducing poverty, improving food safety and gaining access to international markets, from which the majority of them are currently excluded, notably for sanitary reasons. Developed countries continue to suffer occasional animal disease outbreaks, most commonly caused by the accidental introduction of pathogens, a phenomenon widely linked to the global- isation of trade. Nevertheless, the majority of the most serious animal diseases spread primari- ly in developing countries. Diseases are a major and persistent factor in animal suffering and combating them worldwide must be a priority for all those seeking to improve animal welfare. It was primarily with this in mind that our member countries sought to extend the OIE’s mandate to include animal welfare, even though this field is not specifically covered by the WTO agreements. Among the OIE’s other mandates are, for example, wildlife diseases and their links with dis- eases in other animals and with human diseases. Some emerging zoonoses are indeed linked to wild animals and the challenge facing us in this field is to fully understand these phenomena so as to combat them more effectively and preserve wildlife. Our mandates also include food safety, the OIE working closely with the Codex Alimentarius Commission to develop standards relating to the prevention of hazards during the production VIII Global conference on animal welfare: an OIE initiative and transport of food animals, so as to avoid risks to consumers. This is also a new field for the OIE and in due course we shall also have to examine whether inappropriate production or transport conditions can subsequently affect the safety of food products of animal origin. Other activities carried out by the OIE may also have a direct or indirect effect on animal wel- fare. The OIE codes, which contain standards on animal health and conditions governing interna- tional trade in animals and animal products, also include model sanitary certificates intended to accompany animals or animal products. These certificates are issued by the