Foreword – Monique Eloit, OIE
The understanding and perception of animal welfare differs for each and
every individual, region and culture. Animal welfare is a complex and multi-
faceted issue, involving scientific, ethical, economic, cultural, social, religious
and political dimensions. It is intrinsically linked with the environment and
to human health as a whole. Increasingly we understand the connection and
relationship between animal health, well-being and productivity to human
health and well-being.
One Health is now well accepted as an approach to understanding the
connections between human health, animal health and ecosystem health
through interdisciplinary cooperation. In the same way, if we embrace the
interdisciplinary approach in seeking to understand the contribution that
animals make to well-functioning societies in different settings in the world,
our understanding of the importance of animal welfare will deepen, as will
our understanding of how it can be fully integrated into our animal owner-
ship, husbandry and care practices.
Since 2002, when the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) spe-
cifically brought animal welfare into its mandate, significant advances have
been made in the development of science-based animal welfare standards,
agreed by our 181 Member Countries following an inclusive engagement
and adoption process. Science-based animal welfare recommendations have
been codified in international standards for: transport of animals by land,
sea and air; slaughter of animals and killing for disease control; produc-
tion systems in various species; stray dog population control; use of animals
in research and education; and working equids. All these are now part of
the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the Aquatic Animal Health Code.
These provide essential guidance to OIE Member Countries to improve
animal welfare and the well-being of their owners globally.
The OIE’s role and processes for setting science-based international
standards for animal welfare are now well established within the strategy
and structure of the organization. But the OIE must continue to identify
new thinking from scientific research, including research in social sciences,
that can improve our standards development. During the 4th OIE Global
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