Slaughter welfare standards vary enormously between countries. Animals in lower-standard countries face preventable suffering that advocacy and trade policy can help address.
The global inequality in slaughter welfare standards means that animals slaughtered in countries without stunning requirements face preventable suffering in their final moments. Live export compounds this by exposing animals to poor transport conditions before reaching countries with lower welfare oversight. International advocacy — including trade standards, bilateral agreements, and OIE guideline strengthening — can drive welfare improvements where domestic reform is politically blocked. Consumer pressure on retailers to source from countries with better slaughter welfare standards creates market incentives for improvement.