How to address Animal Welfare issues and its implications on Indian Poultry Sector?

How to address Animal Welfare issues and its implications on Indian Poultry Sector?

By:

Vijay Sardana

Animal welfare regarding poultry sector is becoming an issue of debate in the country and all stakeholders must understand animal welfare issues with respect to poultry sector in detail before they express their opinion on the subject in any forum.

Animal welfare is a complex, multifaceted, international and domestic public policy issue with scientific, ethical, economic, legal, religious and cultural dimensions plus important trade policy implications.

It is a responsibility that must be shared between governments, communities, the people who own, care for and use animals, civil society, educational institutions, veterinarians and scientists.

Till be develop our own norms, we should study the various work done by OIE while working in animal welfare standards.

At the international level, OIE is the reference body who is studying various parameters related to animal welfare and proposing guidelines related to animal welfare.

The OIE global animal welfare strategy has been created to provide continuing direction and coordination of the organisation’s actions in this important field.

According to OIE, mutual recognition and constructive engagement among parties are necessary to achieve sustained improvements to animal welfare.

Animals may be kept as working animals, companion animals, for production of food, fibre and other animal products, for scientific and educational purposes and are transported and traded internationally. The OIE recognises all these purposes as legitimate while carrying an associated ethical responsibility to ensure any such use is humane, as defined through the OIE’s international standards for animal welfare, in recognition of the sentience of animals.

Animal Welfare and Animal Performance:

In food production systems, attention to animal welfare can improve productivity, quality, food safety, and economic returns, and therefore contribute to food security and economic prosperity. The ethical and economic drivers for animal welfare are complementary, in that both are legitimate considerations and ideally both should be considered in determining the conditions of the animals in any specific context.

Development of Animal Welfare Standards

The OIE develops animal welfare standards with input from international experts, based on relevant scientific research and considering associated ethical considerations and practical experience, in consultation with Member Countries and key international stakeholders to ensure ownership and global applicability.

Animal welfare standards should achieve good animal welfare outcomes rather than prescribing design criteria. It cooperates with relevant international and regional government and non-government organisations in setting mutually recognised standards and to avoid duplication of effort.

Capacity Building and Education about Animal Welfare:

The OIE provides guidance, including through the veterinary services pathway tools, to Member Countries to strengthen their Veterinary Services to enhance their capacity to implement animal welfare standards. It provides support for training activities for country delegates and national animal welfare Focal Points.

It develops and disseminates materials for animal welfare training and capacity building directed at all those who care for animals. It supports the inclusion of animal welfare in curricula for veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals and students of animal agriculture and schools when relevant.

Communication with Governments, Organisations and the Public

The OIE develops communication programmes to provide accurate, accessible and timely information on animal welfare to governments, the agri-food sector, veterinarians and other professionals including farmers. It communicates with governments, international and regional organisations, nongovernmental organisations and the private sector to foster awareness of the OIE animal welfare standards. It makes information available to the public to improve awareness of animal welfare issues and developments.

Implementation of Animal Welfare Standards and Policies

The OIE supports Member Countries in policy development and governance related to animal welfare through training, advice, policy research and analysis. It makes recommendations to Member Countries on the inclusion of animal welfare in national legislation and on implementing animal welfare standards. It works with relevant international and regional organisations to ensure that private or commercial animal welfare standards are consistent with OIE standards.

What India should do to address Animal welfare issues in the coming years?

India should take the help of OIE in the development of animal welfare framework.

At the same time all stakeholders must establish a forum that will bring together members of the animal welfare research community, the animal welfare movement and the animal-source food sector:

·      To discuss animal welfare policies, issues and activities at the global level;

·      Identify sources of expertise, educational programmes and other animal welfare related activities;

·      Provide overall guidance in supporting communication and advocacy activities related to animal welfare;

·      Identify areas for the development of additional animal welfare standards; and

·      Influence and support the implementation of animal welfare standards.

·      Development and implementation of science-based animal welfare standards using the best scientific and practical expertise on animal welfare, considering associated ethical considerations and regional perspectives.

·      Strengthening the role of the OIE collaborating centres on animal welfare is a key component of this action.

·      Encouraging and supporting the ongoing development, evolution and implementation of regional animal welfare strategies.

·      Promoting understanding and awareness of animal welfare in the region through communication, education and training; guiding states in the implementation of animal welfare standards to ensure harmonised approaches across the country;

·      Providing a mechanism for developing animal welfare policies, legislation and activities appropriate to the region;

·      Promoting cooperation among other Countries and other organisations in applying animal welfare standards in the region;

·      Advocating the inclusion of animal welfare in veterinary, veterinary paraprofessional and animal science curricula in the region;

·      Ensuring that new knowledge and developments in animal welfare are broadly communicated in the country and region;

·      Identifying possible research and development needs and priorities and continue to monitor the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) and its recognition of OIE’s international leadership role in setting animal welfare standards.

Need to have a National Animal Welfare Coordination Committee:

Due to complex scientific nature of animal welfare, there is a need to have a coordinated approach among stakeholders towards animal welfare in India.

Strengthening of national veterinary services through capacity building activities, using the veterinary services pathway should be the priority for the country while dealing with animal welfare issues.

OIE services can be used to strengthen national animal welfare plans. It will also support India’s involvement in the standard development process.

National Animal Welfare Coordination Committee would be responsible for coordination of activities related to animal welfare, including:

·      Liaison with in-country national Competent Authority(is) for animal welfare, animal welfare experts and relevant national non-governmental organisations;

·      Receiving and sharing relevant information with the OIE, with stakeholders in their own countries and OIE region, and with other national animal welfare agencies;

·      Facilitating the implementation of animal welfare standards and training;

·      Contributing to the implementation of animal welfare strategies;

·      Broadening the horizons and strengthening relationships between animal welfare science and other areas of sciences such as social, environmental and economic science, through the participation and collaboration in research, publications and conference at global, regional or national levels.

·      Liaison with in-country national Competent Authority(is) for animal welfare, animal welfare experts and relevant national non-governmental organisations;

·      Receiving and sharing relevant information with the OIE, with stakeholders in their own countries and OIE region, and with other national animal welfare agencies;

·      Facilitating the implementation of animal welfare standards and training;

·      Contributing to the implementation of animal welfare strategies.

It is important that all stakeholders should work together to achieve the animal welfare standards in India which are logical and meaningful. These standards must protect the interest of all stakeholders without compromising on the logic of sound science related to animal welfare.