Although commonly used in other settings, defining animal welfare as part of a corporate CSR setting is not new. There are many ways to define CSR. What they have in common is that CSR describes how companies manage their business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. The phenomenon CSR is a value concept that is susceptible to particular ideological and emotional interpretations. Different organizations have framed different definitions - although there is considerable common ground between them. Some important national players of the food chain at different steps (mainly food retailers and food services) have included animal welfare in their CSR.

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Presentation 2
Animal Euthanasia
What are the challenges?
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2. Animal Part of
Euthanasia CSR profiling
Presented by Harm Kiezebrink
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3. Animal euthanasia - component of farming
• Stunning methods
3
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• Mortality under piglets first 48
hours: up to 12% (Source: Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine -
University of Ghent, 2008)
• Mortality under poultry on the
farm: 3%
• Mal-positioned embryo’s and
mail day-old chicks

4. Animal euthanasia – the legal framework
EU Directive 1099/2009
• Stunning methods
4
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• Cervical neck dislocation only allowed with poultry
to 5 KG - and only after an stunning. This method is
not allowed to be routinely used; only in cases
where no other stunning methods are available.
• Penetrating and Non-penetrating bolt is only
allowed in poultry as an stunning method-
Subsequently, killing by bleeding or prolonged
oxygen withdrawal (the Anoxia method) is to follow
(EC 1099/2009, art. 4))
• Blunt blow on the head; Allowed as stunning
method for piglets and poultry up to 5 kg –
Subsequently followed by killing of the animal
through bleeding or by the Anoxia method (oxygen
withdrawal). This method is not allowed to be
routinely used; only in cases where no other
stunning method are available.

5. • Euthanizing animals is part of
the farming process
• The majority of consumers
chose to stay uninformed,
easing their conscious
• There is no financial incentive
for proper euthanizing farm
animals
• Therefore proper euthanizing
animals should be part of
Corporate Social Responsibility
of the industry and retailers
Animal Euthanasia
Daily practice – versus – the taboo
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6. Animal euthanasia
Perspective on the long term
• Reports and videos on animal
cruelty influences especially
young consumers
• Growing rejection of
consumption of animal products
is becoming a trend
• Share of vegetarians (Germany)
is 3.5% and rising; 11% are now
"Flexitarier”
• The EU responded in order to
adjust to changing consumer
concerns
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7. • No response: Welfare organizations will
force the industry to open discussion on
the subject
• Passive - Individual response: Only
Implemented by practitioners of
alternative farming – demonstrating the
difference in farming concepts
• Active – collective response: Part of an
integrated CSR industry strategy
Animal euthanasia
How to respond
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8. The Anoxia technique
The modern answer to consumer concerns
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