Market-driven Animal Welfare in the EU and the US

US and EU: is there room for joint initiatives?

David FikesFood Marketing Institute

Food Marketing InstituteFood Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.

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FMI Board Approved Policy Statement: Animal Welfare for Food Animals

Revised version adopted January 28, 2012

• FMI believes animals should and can be raised, handled, transported and processed in ways that ensure they are clean, safe and free from cruelty, abuse or neglect.

• FMI’s Board of Directors support that the critical components of a responsible food industry include the necessity to simultaneously and scientifically assess the impacts of animal care and handling practices on animal well-being, food safety and food quality.

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We, therefore, commit to the following actions:

• FMI will work cooperatively with other food and agricultural associations –who represent farmers, ranchers, growers and processors – to promote best practices for food animal well-being at every step in the animal agriculture supply chain production process.

• FMI will consult regularly with experts in animal husbandry and behavior, veterinary medicine and agricultural production to evaluate desirable practices and perform a periodic review of species-specific guidelines regarding the raising, handling, transporting and processing of food animals.

• FMI will continue encouraging the appropriate state and federal government agencies to strictly enforce animal protection laws.

• FMI will work to communicate examples of species-specific best practices to maintain consumer confidence that animals in the food production process are treated in accordance with accepted animal husbandry practices.

• FMI will identify and develop appropriate programming and resources that support its food animal welfare policy.

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Sustainable Animal Agriculture

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Information Gap

Consumer opinions - Commercial FarmersPriorities are Priorities should be

Affordable food Affordable food

Farm profitability Safe food

Safe food Nutritious food

Farm productivity Humane treatment of animals

Nutritious food Help feed the world

Help feed the world Environmental sustainability

Humane treatment of animals Farm profitability

Environmental sustainability Farm productivitySource: Center for Food Integrity , 2011 Consumer Trust Research

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Information gapSurvey of 1,002 Farmers and Ranchers: How accurate is consumer perception of modern farming and ranching?

• 2% - very accurate

• 5% mostly accurate

•35% somewhat accurate

•58% not at allSource: U. S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance

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Information gapSurvey of 1,002 Farmers and Ranchers: How much knowledge do you think the average consumer has about the modern farming and ranching industry in the United States?

• 2% - a significant amount

•13% - some knowledge

•70% - very little•16% - no knowledge at all

Source: U. S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance

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Room for joint initiatives?

• First step, establish formal dialogue between European Commission’s network of “Reference Centres” and groups in USA interested in sustainable animal agriculture, and together work toward global standards in the housing, feeding, transporting and harvesting of food animals.

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Room for joint initiatives?

Roles, relationships and lines of authority and responsibility would need to be clarified:•What is the role of government?•What is the role of private-sector industry?•What is role of non-government organizations? •How do those work together in the EU’s current Animal Welfare strategy?