The RSPCA has referred to as on Australian and European Union (EU) political leaders to make sure pending commerce preparations lead to higher animal welfare requirements.
As the Free Trade Agreement between the 2 is nearing completion, the RSPCA has reiterated its name for equivalency provisions to help enhancements in animal welfare requirements.
RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell stated that Australia’s main animal welfare organisation supported initial wording in the AU-EU FTA for the necessity to recognise animal sentience and acknowledge animal welfare as a vital element of sustainable meals manufacturing techniques, however stated these situations alone wouldn’t go far sufficient.
“It’s time to raise the bar on animal welfare standards in Australia,” Mussell stated. “And the Australia-EU free trade agreement is a perfect opportunity to help do this.”
“The FTA supplies an thrilling and essential alternative to, not simply enhance market access for producers, however to determine clear priorities for cooperation provisions on animal welfare and speed up enhancements by aligning animal welfare requirements primarily based on the stronger customary, as assessed on accepted animal welfare standards.
“Animals are not inanimate commodities. Their welfare must be considered and protected in trade agreements like this,” Mussell added.
“Practices that lead to poor animal welfare face growing group scrutiny, each right here and abroad. Extreme confinement techniques, invasive husbandry procedures and practices that expose animals to important danger and poor welfare are neither sustainable nor publicly acceptable.
“Similarly, preserving layer hens confined to barren battery cages isn’t permitted within the EU, whereas domestically, not all states and territories have dedicated to the phase-out of battery cages by 2036, as per Australia’s new Poultry Standards and Guidelines.
“We call on Australian and European representatives to address the matter of equivalency provisions in the final version of the agreement, to safeguard animal welfare, respond to growing global concern, and take this opportunity to promote the implementation of high animal welfare standards.”
