Fikes

Market-driven AnimalWelfare in the EU and the USUS and EU: is there room for joint initiatives? David Fikes Food Marketing Institute

Food Marketing InstituteFood Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, foodsafety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United Statesand around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annualsales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership iscomposed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independentoperators. Its international membership includes 126 companies frommore than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include thesupplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.

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. 3

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. 4

Sustainable Animal Agriculture 5

Information GapConsumer 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 6

Information gapSurvey of 1,002 Farmers and Ranchers: How accurate isconsumer 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 7

Information gapSurvey of 1,002 Farmers and Ranchers: How muchknowledge do you think the average consumer has aboutthe modern farming and ranching industry in the UnitedStates? • 2% - a significant amount •13% - some knowledge •70% - very little •16% - no knowledge at all Source: U. S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance 8

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. 9

Room for joint initiatives?Roles, relationships and lines of authorityand 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-governmentorganizations?•How do those work together in the EU’scurrent Animal Welfare strategy? 10

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