International trade in animal-derived products creates complex welfare supply chains that are difficult to monitor, certify, and regulate across national boundaries.
International animal product supply chains create a welfare accountability gap in which domestic welfare regulations in importing countries do not apply to the farming systems that supply them. A consumer in the UK buying cheap chicken may be funding farming practices that would be illegal in British farms. Regulatory solutions require either strong import standards with enforcement, or trade agreements that include animal welfare chapters with teeth. In the absence of such regulation, voluntary certification and retailer supply chain auditing are the main mechanisms for closing this gap.