The condition in which animals are transported can influence both their stress levels and their health. International cooperation is needed to improve these conditions. For this reason, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is organising a workshop in Cartagena, Colombia, which will bring together key transport managers from the Americas, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The event will provide an opportunity to exchange best practices for the transport of animals on sea.
This is not the first time that WOAH organises a whole-of-journey multi-regional workshop. The approach, known as the ‘whole-of-journey’, consists of bringing together all official sectors involved in the transport of live animals, from the point of departure to destination, including transit points, to ensure consistency in the understanding and the implementation of international animal welfare standards during long-distance transport.
“The event will allow representatives from countries in the Americas and Europe, mostly exporters, and from countries in the Middle East and North Africa, mostly importers of live animals, to create partnerships and communication channels facilitating the joint monitoring of animal welfare status during transport” explained Dr Luis Barcos, WOAH’s Regional Representative for the Americas. “It will also provide room for the exchange of successful experiences and challenges in the implementation of strategies to ensure the welfare of animals during maritime transport throughout the different stages of the process.”
Animal welfare has been part of WOAH’s mandate since 2002, when WOAH’s Members recognised its essential link to animal health, and requested the Organisation to develop a vision and strategy that incorporates different facets of this complex issue. More than twenty years later, important advances have been made in this direction. These include the development of international standards, based on science, which provide Members with guidance to improve animal welfare in different areas, including during transport. These chapters are currently under revision to incorporate the latest scientific evidence.
Yet, the proper implementation of standards in the field remains a challenge, often due to a lack of coordination between the various actors involved or even due to a lack of capacity. Indeed, according to the WOAH Observatory’s first annual report first annual report only 26% of Members have the minimum capacity to legislate and implement animal welfare international standards.
As it turns 100 years, WOAH recognises the importance of collaboration and capacity building to properly implement its international standards at national level. To this end, the Regional Representation for the Americas is organising a multi-regional ‘whole-of-journey’ workshop to provide tools that could help improve animal welfare worldwide.
Practical information:
Date: 6-8 November 2024
Venue: Cartagena, Colombia
Participants: Official representatives from countries in the Americas, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East by invitation.
WOAH gratefully acknowledges the support of the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) and of Switzerland and Italy, as financial partners, for the organisation of this event.
