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INTERNATIONAL TRADE RULES

: : About the issue

European animal welfare is under threat from World Trade organisation (WTO) negotiations which aim to halt any actions governments might take to prevent free trade.

: : What is the current situation?

WTO continues to negotiate to reduce trade barriers and liberalise trade in agricultural products; it is looking at any national subsidies and taxes that can affect this. The question of whether nations can demand that imported products have to meet the same welfare standards as products sold by home producers is of great concern to Eurogroup, its member organisations and all those striving to improve conditions for animals.

: : What is Eurogroup calling for?

Eurogroup is calling for:

	the EU to safeguard animal welfare in the WTO agricultural negotiations
	full recognition for animal welfare as a non-trade related issue so that subsidies can be given to farmers to implement stricter animal welfare standards
	countries to be allowed to protect their markets from cheap, low welfare products.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Eurogroup documents

General briefing on WTO (Jun.05) also available in (fr)

Briefing on the greenbox
(Jun. 05)

Report "Developing animal welfare - The opportunities for trade in high welfare products from developing countries"
(Jan. 05)

Report "Hardboiled Reality - animal welfare friendly egg production in a global market" (Sep. 01)

also available in (fr) and (es)