Demand for high standards of animal welfare to be linked with the granting of international finance for developing countries has been backed by farm ministers from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, according Humane Society International (HSI).
Commenting from today’s EU agriculture council meeting in Brussels, HSI said that the Danish, German and Dutch ministers were to be “applauded” for calling on EU member states to “safeguard animal welfare when granting investment capital through international finance institutions and when providing guarantees through export credit agencies”.
“EU animal welfare standards are higher than those in the emerging economies receiving this investment capital, and where the exports receiving export credit agency support are destined,” said HIS’s EU executive director, Joanna Swabe.
“Ending financial support from the EU for poor welfare housing systems in emerging and developing economies is critical to raising farm animal welfare standards worldwide.”
HSI is also calling on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to revise its standards for export credit guarantees according to animal welfare standards.Â