Intensive Farming

Livestock Welfare Integration in Food Policy

Integrating animal welfare into food policy beyond voluntary schemes requires regulatory frameworks that create level playing fields.

Key Facts

Voluntary welfare schemes cover only a minority of total livestock production
Import regulations that do not require equivalent welfare standards undermine domestic producers
Government procurement policies can drive welfare improvement at scale
Economic analysis consistently shows consumer willingness to pay for welfare improvements

Welfare Considerations

Voluntary welfare improvements in domestic production are undermined when equivalent standards are not required of imports. Domestic producers who invest in welfare face cost disadvantages against imports from lower-welfare systems. Mandatory welfare standards applied to all products sold in a market, including imports, create the level playing field that enables welfare improvement without competitive disadvantage.

What You Can Do

Support trade policies that require equivalent welfare standards for imports
Advocate for government procurement policies prioritizing high welfare products
Back political parties committed to welfare standards in trade policy
Learn about the trade policy dimensions of animal welfare reform