The OIE's achievements and objectives in animal welfare

Animal welfare was first identified as a priority in the OIE Strategic Plan 2001-2005. OIE Member Countries and Territories mandated the organisation to take the lead internationally on animal welfare and, as the international reference organisation for animal health, to elaborate recommendations and guidelines covering animal welfare practices, reaffirming that animal health is a key component of animal welfare.

The Permanent Animal Welfare Working Group was inaugurated at the 70th General Session of the OIE in May 2002 and the first recommendations of the Working Group were adopted one year later. The OIE Guiding Principles on animal welfare were included in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code) in 2004.

The OIE convened a First Global Conference on Animal Welfare in February 2004. As well as the Veterinary Services in OIE Member Countries and Territories, the Conference targeted livestock producers and actors in the meat sector, veterinary practitioners and international non governmental organisations (NGOs) working in animal welfare. The main objective of the Conference was to raise awareness of, and to explain, the OIE's animal welfare initiative.

At its 73rd General Session, in May 2005, the OIE International Committee (comprising the National Delegates of the Member Countries and Territories) adopted five animal welfare standards to be included in the OIE Terrestrial Code. These cover:

• the transport of animals by land

• the transport of animals by sea

• the transport of animal by air

• the slaughter of animals for human consumption

• the killing of animals for disease control purposes.

These standards are regularly updated.

Under the current Strategic Plan, for the period 2006-2010, the OIE will continue to develop international standards and guidelines in accordance with the direction established in 2004.

The OIE will hold a Second Global Conference on Animal Welfare in Cairo (Egypt) on 20-22 October 2008. With this conference the OIE wishes to support its Members, especially in-transition and developing countries, to implement the OIE standards and thereby to improve animal welfare. The involvement of veterinarians and the official Veterinary Services is key to improving animal welfare. The Conference has a strong practical orientation. The OIE and partner organisations will review progress made by Members, Veterinary Services, livestock producers and actors in the meat sector in the implementation of the OIE's animal welfare standards.

Future developments

Notwithstanding the progress made to date, there are still many challenges and the OIE continues to develop its standard setting work into new areas of importance to animal welfare.

In 2007, the OIE is in the process of finalising Guidelines for the Control of Stray Dog Populations. This work falls within the OIE mandates for animal health, public health and animal welfare, as it addresses humane methods for the control of dog populations and the prevention of important zoonotic diseases, such as rabies and hydatidosis, in communities.

The OIE is convening new ad hoc Groups to address Laboratory Animal Welfare and Livestock Production Systems. Draft texts elaborated by these Groups will be reviewed by the Permanent Animal Welfare Working Group and the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code Commission before transmission to Members for comment, then for approval, in accordance with the democratic and transparent OIE procedure for standard setting. Reports of ad hoc Groups are generally included as annexes to the reports of OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Code Commission. This Commission meets twice a year and the reports are placed on the OIE internet site (normally in November and April).

On the right side bar of this page, there is information on the membership of the Working Group, texts of presentations, meeting reports and a link to the online version of the OIE Terrestrial Code.

For further information please contact: trade.dept@oie.int

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Last update :03-Nov-2008