The document discusses adding guidance on animal welfare to ISO 26000. It notes that animals impact the environment through greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. The use of animals also impacts public health and welfare through diseases. Animals can experience unnecessary pain and stress. The current draft of ISO 26000 lacks guidance on ethical treatment of animals and animal care. It proposes adding bullet points on respecting animal welfare to sections on ethical behavior and protecting the natural environment. It also suggests a help box with examples of proper animal care practices.

1. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
There are rumours going around …
 Animals are more important than
human beings
 Animals are more important than
plants and trees
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2. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
Why should we elaborate on animals in ISO 26000?
 Animals have an impact on the environment
 f.e. GHG emissions, water pollution
 The “use” of animals has an impact on health & welfare
of society
 spreading diseases (BSE, H5N1, swine flu)
 inefficient use of food resources
 Animals can suffer unnecessary pain and experience
stress
 Scientific evidence (Universal Declaration on Animal
Welfare)
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3. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
What is missing in the CD1?
 No guidance on ethical behaviour regarding animals
 Bullet point in 4.4 Ethical behaviour or:
 Bullet point in 6.5.6.1 Protection and restoration of
the natural environment
 No guidance on animal care
 What an organization should do (in addressing the
impacts)
NWIP: ISO 26000 should fill gaps
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4. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
Bullet point in 4.4 Ethical behaviour
“respecting the welfare of animals, when impacting their
lives and existence, by ensuring decent conditions for
keeping, breeding, producing and using animals.”
Bullet point in 6.5.6.1 Protection and restoration of
the natural environment (after line 1830)
“Animals are part of our natural ecosystems and should
therefore be valued and protected. It is the responsibility
of organizations that impact the lives of animals to
prevent and act on misuse of animals and respect their
welfare needs.”
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5. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
Help box Animal welfare
Organisations that through their activities deal with animals or impact the lives and existence of
animals, should take care of the welfare of animals. Animal care can have a positive impact on
environment, health and welfare of society. Organisations should consider playing a positive role
to improve the circumstances in which animals are kept, bred, produced or used.
Examples include:
Taking measures to ensure a healthy, natural growth and to prevent pain, injury or disease by
rapid diagnosis and treatment;
Providing sufficient space and proper facilities to express normal behaviour;
Providing nutrition that is congenial to the specific animal species;
Considering ethical boundaries to breeding animals in circumstances with a high productivity and
genetic engineering of animals;
Determining whether the methods used (for example methods for production, testing, raising)
cause unintentional death of animals, and where possible, avoiding these deaths by introducing
other methods.
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6. ISO 26000 (Meeting Quebec) – Animal welfare
Sentence in 6.5.6.1 Protection and restoration of the
natural environment (in line 1816)
“Animals are part of our natural ecosystems and should
therefore be valued and protected. A proper care for
animals an have a positive impact on the natural
environment (see Box A)”
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