1. Market-driven Animal
Welfare in the EU and the US
US and EU: is there room for joint
initiatives?
David Fikes
Food Marketing Institute
2. Food Marketing Institute
Food 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.
3. 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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4. 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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6. Information Gap
Consumer opinions - Commercial Farmers
Priorities 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 productivity
Source: Center for Food Integrity , 2011 Consumer Trust Research
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7. Information gap
Survey 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 all
Source: U. S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance
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8. Information gap
Survey 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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9. 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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10. 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?
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