European Animal Welfare Groups Push for Standards in Global Trade Agreements

European animal advocates and some European Commission (EC) members recently attended a Conference on Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare in Brussels, Belgium, where they reportedly called on legislators to include animal welfare provisions in all global trade agreements. In particular, EC members noted that animal welfare restrictions have driven up the cost of meat production in Europe, making it more economical to import these products. They thus urged Europe to demand equivalency standards in international trade agreements
similar to those already in place for biotechnology.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s chief veterinarian, Elizabeth Parker, noted that Europe bases its welfare standards on non-scientific factors, pointing to the practice of using “Eurobarometer” surveys to craft policies in line with public opinion. “The ultimate goal is to make sure we take care of our animals and produce safe and affordable beef supply and we do that,” stated Parker in an interview with Meatingplace.com. “It is hard to see how the European regulations have improved animal handling.” See Meatingplace.com, February 11,
2009.