Welfare audit systems for pig supply chains vary widely in rigour, independence, and transparency, raising questions about the reliability of on-pack welfare claims.
Welfare audit failures allow poor welfare to persist behind credible-looking assurance labels. Audit systems that are infrequent, non-independent, or inadequately resourced allow farms to pass inspections while routinely failing welfare standards. The gap between what assurance labels promise and what farm inspections reveal has been documented by investigative animal welfare organisations. Effective welfare auditing requires unannounced visits, trained independent assessors, outcome-based welfare measures, and transparent reporting of failures. Consumer trust in welfare labelling depends on robust audit systems that are not captured by industry interests.