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INTERNATIONAL TRADE RULES

: : About the issue

There is increasing concern that progress on animal welfare in Europe and worldwide is under threat by international trade rules. Although animal welfare is not explicitly mentioned in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, the principles of free trade have in recent years threatened stricter welfare legislation.

: : What is the current situation?

WTO members have been negotiating an Agreement on Agriculture since 2001. The aim of the talks is to reduce trade barriers and liberalise trade, officially with a special focus on increasing trade opportunities for developing countries and least developed countries.

: : What is Eurogroup calling for?

Eurogroup is calling for:

	Recognition of animal welfare to be qualified as part of the exemptions under article XX of the GATT rules in particular as part of public moral
	Animal welfare not to be considered as a barrier to trade so that subsidies can be given to assist farmers to move to welfare friendly systems
	Countries to be allowed to protect their markets from cheap, low-welfare products by only allowing import of products produced under equivalent standards.

Last updated: July 30, 2009

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)

Seals and trade rules: can they live together?