International groups seek animal welfare provisions in transatlantic trade

A European animal welfare group has recently signed a declaration uniting like organisations in the EU and the US in an effort to ensure that animal welfare standards are included in transatlantic trade.

The declaration signed by Eurogroup for Animals, which represents animal welfare organisations in all EU member states, creates the Transatlantic Animal Welfare Council (TAWC), the group said in a news release.

Formation of TAWC follows the creation in 2007 of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), which aims to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in removing trade barriers. TAWC will work with EU and US authorities to ensure that trade discussions take into consideration the "special nature of animals as sentient beings and of consequent concerns for their welfare," the release stated.

"This declaration will work to ensure that the USA and EU member state governments integrate animal welfare in their bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in future and also urge private companies to consider animal welfare in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and supply chain policies," said Sonja Van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals.