(IN) Concerning: Should Animal welfare be a WTO issue ? - NEWS today: India Opposes EU Welfare Drive

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So much for that .

 

 

 

 

http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/20901/india-opposes-eu-welfare-drive

 

 

 

 

 

India Opposes EU Welfare Drive

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL - The European Union (EU) is pushing for the inclusion of animal

welfare standards in World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral trade

negotiations.

 

" Inclusion of animal welfare standards in the WTO agenda is urgently needed

to effectively enforce animal standards worldwide, and to improve the

appalling condition of slaughter houses in many countries, including India, "

New Delhi, India-based Citizens for Animal Rights (CAR) said in a release.

 

According to a report by <http://www.thaindian.com/> Thaindian quoting

European representatives, the CAR added: " Animal welfare concerns are being

increasingly recognized in food production around the world, but they must

be formalized within the WTO trade agreements. "

 

But the India government opposes the EU move, reports financial express.com,

citing such moves as " non-tariff trade barriers by developed countries to

curb exports. "

 

But Michael Scannell, adviser to the European Commission's Animal Health and

Welfare Directorate, says: " Getting formal recognition of animal welfare

standards within the binding WTO agreements is crucial for unlocking the UN

and World Bank resources needed to help the developing world raise its

animal welfare levels. "

 

ThePigSite News Desk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Von: Rishi Dev (CFAR) [rishidev.cfar]

Gesendet: Samstag, 18. April 2009 16:53

An: Rishi Dev

Betreff: Should Animal welfare be a WTO issue ?

 

 

 

Dear friends,

 

 

 

please read the text below and see 2 attached news reports.

 

 

 

CFAR, along with Animal Welfare organisations across the globe, would like

to submit a recommendation report to the Commerce Ministry in India. Since

the subject of Animal Welfare has been introduced by EU's as part of trade

negotiations in the WTO, any supporting data, recommendations by our animal

welfare groups would further strengthen and justify our stand to our

government. This is not an issue only concerned with animal rights/ welfare,

but more importantly with human rights also. People who never support such a

cause, just because they do not love animals, hardly realise that this is

not about saving an animal life alone but also an issue of cruelty that

involves while an animal is transported across 1000s of miles mercilessly

and ruthlessly before they find peace in a slaughter house. It is also about

what meat these people are eating. It is also about sanitation and health.

While we may never be able to abolish meat eating ever, but we can lessen

the cruelty by many fold and also make the meat eaters realise the

importance of demanding meat which involves least cruelty. Thats the least

they can do.

 

 

 

So this is one golden opportunity to get ourselves heard and do something

concrete. Despite the Indian government opposing the proposal for many

obvious reasons the likelihood of it getting accepted as part of

negotiations are very good. Or we may not succeed, yet we can contribute our

bit by pressurising the commerce ministry and the government to at least

consider the basis of our stand or oppose it with concrete justification.

 

So please write in your recommendations, proposals along with as much data

as possible on your letterhead or as individuals. Ask yourself the basic

question -

 

 

 

Should Animal welfare be a WTO issue ? If yes, then WHY ?

 

 

 

We will compile all such proposals/ letters/ recommendations and submit

copies to various departments including the WTO and EU offices. This

document will go as an appeal from all of us and not one organisation or

individual. Please try to back it up with related studies and reasonings.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Citizens For Animal Rights (CFAR), New Delhi

 

 

 

One of our members Ms. Shipra Biswas has highlighted and briefed the entire

issue in the writeup below -

 

( Kerala and Meerut pictures and atrocities were included at this end of

this letter just to give an idea of what happens in this country and how our

governments put a blind eye which they will be forced to open once these

sanctions take a concrete shape.)

 

 

 

Animal welfare 'must be WTO issue'- Animal activists in India welcome EU

move

 

 

 

Animal activists in India have welcomed a move by the European Union (EU) to

push for inclusion of animal welfare in the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

multilateral trade negotiations. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of

Lord Mahavir, one of the greatest apostles of non-violence and compassion

for all living beings who lived and preached in India centuries ago, animal

activists have said they will pursue the goal of welfare of animals

including stray animals who are subjected to untold sufferings and hailed

the EU move as the right one which is urgently needed to effectively enforce

animal standards worldwide, including improving the appalling condition of

slaughter houses in many countries including India. India should take the

lead in promoting animal welfare as the land of Ahimsa, they said.

 

 

Animal welfare concerns are being increasingly recognised in food production

around the world, but they must be formalised within the WTO trade

agreements, according to several senior representatives of the EU who spoke

at a recent Brussels conference on 'Global Trade and Farm Animal Welfare'.

 

Czech agriculture minister Petr Gandalovic, the new chair of the EU Farm

Council, explained that the next six months will see a strong focus on

European animal welfare standards, including new slaughter rules. EU Health

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou also highlighted the growing importance of

animal welfare issues as live animals and animal produce are traded across

the world, arguing for their inclusion as a 'non-trade concern' in WTO

agreements. She said: " Animal welfare is gaining rapid momentum, not only in

the EU but worldwide " .

 

The importance of animal welfare in ensuring the quality and safety of meat

was also highlighted, as well as the goal of minimising animal suffering.

 

Need for multilateral deals

 

Michael Scannell, Adviser to the Commission's Animal Health and Welfare in DG SANCO, explained that animal welfare was of increasing

importance for all actors on the European market.

 

Scannell acknowledged that the EU -- as the world's biggest market for food

imports -- often comes under scrutiny for suspected manipulation of

standards in order to block imports, with any moves to bolster the status of

animal welfare in trade policy likely to face allegations of protectionism.

But he affirmed that the EU's trade partners can meet -- and are meeting --

EU animal welfare standards, and should not fear a greater emphasis on

animal welfare as a trading issue.

 

The EU does not require exporting countries to replicate its system,

Scannell said, but demands respect of the internal market principle of

minimising animal suffering.

 

Focus on developing world

 

Getting formal recognition of animal welfare standards within binding WTO

agreements is crucial for unlocking the UN and World Bank resources needed

to help the developing world raise its animal welfare levels, he explained.

 

Daniela Battaglia, Livestock Production Officer for the UN's Food and

Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said that in developing countries - which

are increasingly the central meat producers and exporters - animal welfare

concerns would be successfully taken up if local farmers can be convinced of

the economic benefits of their animals being healthier.

 

Bernard Vallat, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health

(OIE), said that developing countries are starting to take animal welfare

into account, and asserted the importance of OIE standards which provide a

baseline for the 172 countries belonging to the organisation.

 

Retail sector filling gap

 

If animal welfare initiatives are not imminently taken at WTO, regional or

national levels, the gap in public legislation is likely to be filled by

private standards agreed between retailers and suppliers, leaving public

legislators trailing behind, speakers indicated. Many supermarkets are

already responding to public opinion by operating their own animal welfare

standards before placing produce on their shelves.

 

Adolfo Sansolini, Trade Policy Advisor for a collective of animals rights

groups, highlighted many positive steps in the retail sector over the past

year, including the decision to phase-out eggs from battery chickens by

budget supermarket Lidl and food distributor Unilever (for use in its

Hellmann's mayonnaise products).

 

Michael Appleby, Welfare Policy Adviser for the World Society for the

Protection of Animals (WSPA), also added that Smithfield, one of the leading

US pork producers, has agreed to phase out the use of gestation crates for

cows on the back of public opinion.

 

EU quality policy connection

 

Animal welfare could gain a higher profile in the EU this year as the

Commission seeks to make a competitive advantage of the 'quality' of

European produce.

 

With a public consultation recently concluded, it is unclear what specific

measures the Commission will take in order to promote EU food on quality

grounds, but animal welfare standards are likely to be highlighted as a

bonus of buying European, alongside a potential focus on country of origin

labelling.

 

 

 

Citizens for Animal Rights, New Delhi dated 7th April 2009