Five leading panellists from international institutions and from the private sector presented an array of perspectives and interesting insights into this subject to more than 200 expert visitors from around the globe. The ensuing discussion was both constructive and controversial. Following a very multi-faceted debate that lasted for more than one-and-a-half hours, participants came to the conclusion that uniform, international standards for animal welfare are required for global trade too and not just in the area of food safety. However, opinions vary widely on the exact format these standards should take.

Agricultural economist Professor Harald von Witzke from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin opened with a keynote speech that focussed on increasing worldwide demand for poultry and eggs, against a backdrop of limited availability of agricultural land. As regards sustainability and the efficient use of resources, he believes that “There is no alternative to modern-day poultry farming.” Professor von Witzke said he is opposed to trade restrictions and import duties as a means of implementing the equivalent of animal welfare standards internationally. Instead, he believes the only realistic solution would be to introduce a clear, credible and transparent labelling system for diverse standards, which would allow consumers to make an informed decision when buying such products. “We must safeguard the sovereignty and autonomy of consumers.”

In the ensuing discussion, which was expertly moderated by the author and journalist Dr. Tanja Busse, Dr. Alex Thiermann, a vet from Chile and a representative of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) called on EU states to step up their commitment and adopt a significantly more offensive approach in relation to the required importation standards. “Why does the EU not introduce animal-welfare and criteria-oriented regulations that stipulate specific thresholds for foot pad lesions, for example?” By introducing such norms both for animals produced in and imported into Europe, she believes the EU could make a significant contribution to improving animal welfare on a global scale.

Paul Lopez, a poultry producer from France (“The issue of animal welfare has by no means been so heatedly debated there as in Germany”) and President of the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU (a.v.e.c.) called for the introduction of importation standards along the lines of the high standards that exist for the production of poultry meat and eggs. He believes that the highly-regarded European standards governing the quality of processing deserve particular mention: “We need the equivalent of the 'farm-to-fork' approach and to view the entire production chain. It is not enough to just look at what arrives in the abattoir.” He also feels that the fact that the sector is producing for the global – and not just a niche – market also needs to be taken into consideration in the discussion in general.

Mr Ricardo Santin, a high-ranking representative of the Brazilian poultry industry and Vice President of the International Poultry Council (IPC), knows all about this global market. Brazil would need, and would be well able, to meet high animal welfare standards for trade with the EU. According to Mr Santin: "Our climate alone allows us to keep poultry in low densities outdoors."
 
"We must take a more offensive approach to representing our interests."

Dr. Michael Scannell, Deputy Director General for Food Safety at the European Commission underlined that the EU had been far too patient with its trading partners for too long. He said that there have hardly ever been any restrictions. He now believes that trouble is brewing on two fronts: Firstly, food retailers are increasingly calling for equivalent animal welfare standards for imports and secondly, consumers too are becoming impatient. Dr. Scannell praised the European system for being exceptionally transparent and efficient and, against this backdrop, emphatically issued a warning that we must take a more offensive approach to representing our interests. Consumers will not tolerate these different standards for animal welfare for much longer."