Government animal welfare inspections are a cornerstone of enforcement, but inspection frequency, quality, and follow-up vary enormously, limiting their effectiveness as a welfare safeguard.
Animal welfare inspection systems are essential infrastructure for welfare enforcement but face significant challenges of capacity, consistency, and follow-up. In most countries, official farm inspections occur too infrequently to detect welfare problems before they become severe. Inspection quality varies widely between inspectors, creating inconsistency that undermines the deterrent effect. The development of risk-based inspection systems that prioritise high-risk operations and use outcome-based indicators to target resources is an important reform direction. Complementing official inspections with industry assurance scheme audits, abattoir welfare feedback, and technology-assisted monitoring could create a more comprehensive welfare surveillance system.