Policy and Legislation
Enforcement
Policy & Legislation
OIE
International Animal Welfare Standards
A neat infographic on the OIE’s international animal welfare standards, with hyperlinks to each standard.
World Animal Net
World Animal Net’s Model Animal Welfare Act has been designed to serve as a basic template and guidance document for those interested in enacting new legislation or improving existing animal protection legislation. It has been drafted using an extensive comparative law exercise, taking into account ‘best practice’ in the field. The Model Animal Welfare Act also contains advice on implementation and enforcement, including government structures and systems.
Animal Protection and Constitutions
Information and resources on the inclusion of animal protection provisions in constitutions, including a chart providing a summary of current constitutional provisions relating to the care, protection, and general status of animals throughout the world.
Animal Protection Resources and Contacts
A selection of animal protection resources, advice and contacts.
GAL Global Animal Law
The GAL Project - Global Animal Law
A specialized portal for animal law – which includes visionary concepts, ideas and expertise; and an international database of animal welfare legislation at every level.
Food and Agricultural Organisation of the UN (FAO)
Legislative and Regulatory Options for Animal Welfare
This FAO legislative study reviews the ways in which countries can choose to legislate on animal welfare against the backdrop of international developments.
European Union
Background information, related documents etc.
Council of Europe (CoE)
The CoE has a number of conventions covering animal protection issues:
European Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes
European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter
European Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport
European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals
Animal Legal and Historical Center
Animal Legal and Historical Center Web site
On this site you will find a comprehensive repository of information about animal law, including: over 1200 full text cases (US, historical, and UK), over 1400 US statutes, over 60 topics and comprehensive explanations, legal articles on a variety of animal topics and an international collection.
Enforcement
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Veterinary Legislation Support Program
Upon request, the OIE conducts missions to help governments that wish to modernize their national veterinary legislation and enforcement structures and systems, in order to help the veterinary services to meet the OIE standards.
OIE Improved Animal Welfare Program
The OIE improved animal welfare program has been developed as a capacity building program to assist countries to implement OIE animal welfare standards on land transport and slaughter.
European Union (EU)
European Enforcement Network of Animal Welfare Lawyers and Commissioners
This web portal includes EU legislation, judgments, strategy, enforcement activities and challenges. It also includes an enforcement overview.
Fitness for Transport Resources
Practical Guidelines to Assess Fitness for Transport of Adult Bovines
These guidelines have been prepared by a group of animal protection organizations and other stakeholders with significant combined expertise in the field. They are designed for operators involved at any stage in transport of adult cattle, in order to help with decisions on whether an animal is fit to travel or not.
Practical Guidelines to Assess Fitness for Transport of Pigs
These guidelines have been prepared by a group of animal protection organizations and other stakeholders with significant combined expertise in the field. They have been designed to provide clear and helpful advice for all operators involved at any stage in transport of pigs, in order to help with decisions on whether an animal is fit to travel or not.
These guidelines have been prepared by a group of animal protection organizations and other stakeholders with significant combined expertise in the field. They have been designed to provide clear and helpful advice for anyone involved in transporting horses, ponies, donkeys or their hybrids, to assist them in determining whether an animal is fit to travel or not. They aim to support good animal welfare throughout the transport process (i.e. before, during and after travel). Whilst they are based on European Union legislation, they include common sense provisions and advice which are more widely applicable.
Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
Livestock Production Animal Resources
Standards, principles and implementation guidance.
UK Government
Keeping Farmed Animals: Guidance
Advice and guidance on protecting animal welfare on farms, in transport, at markets and at slaughter.
Food Standards Agency
Slaughter licensing and animal welfare
Includes information on compliance with slaughter provisions, licensing, checks and use of CCTV to monitor.