International frameworks like the OIE terrestrial and aquatic animal health codes set global baseline welfare standards. Understanding their scope and limitations reveals how international welfare governance works.
International animal welfare governance is genuinely consequential: WOAH standards shape welfare practices in countries where domestic legislation is minimal. But these standards are also limited by the voluntary nature of international agreements and the conservative pace of intergovernmental consensus. Progress comes through multiple channels — domestic legislation, certification schemes, retailer commitments, and consumer pressure — that together create a ratchet toward better welfare. Understanding how international frameworks work helps advocates identify where to focus effort and where the biggest gaps between standards and practice remain. The trajectory of global welfare standards is improving, but implementation remains highly uneven.