International trade and animals

ABOUT THE ISSUE

Livestock products and live animals are increasingly being traded at international level. Differences in production standards for animal welfare from banning certain farming systems to restricting use of animals for testing and rejecting the sales of produced derived from animal suffering makes it necessary to include animal welfare considerations in trade negotiations. International trade law governed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) does not explicitly forbid restrictions in trade on animal welfare grounds but allows for exemptions on the basis of public morality and consumer preference.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION

The EU has several trade restrictions in place from a ban on the import of cat and dog fur and seal products to banning the sales of cosmetics tested on animals. The EU seal ban is being challenged by Canada at WTO and the result of the panel will become an important precedent for animal welfare at WTO.
Where the EU has introduced animal welfare standards for food produced in Europe it is allowing imports from countries with low or no animal welfare standards. This situation is harming EU farmers, consumers and farm animals.

WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR

• Animal welfare should be fully considered in the EU and international trade policy
• The EU should insist on all imported products complying with EU standards of animal welfare
• EU trade agreements should include provision to safeguard and promote animal welfare
• Every country should have the right to restrict the trade of animals or animal based products for animal welfare reasons in line with the values of its society.
• Export subsidies which artificially create a competitive advantage for EU farmers should be phased out in particularly for live animals.