EA - Introducing Animal Policy International by Rainer Kravets

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Introducing Animal Policy International, published by Rainer Kravets on May 4, 2023 on The Effective Altruism Forum.Animal Policy International is a new organisation launched through the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program focused on ensuring that animal welfare standards are upheld in international trade policy.ProblemThere are significant differences between farmed animal welfare standards across the globe, with billions of animals still confined in factory farms. Even those regions with higher standards like the EU, the UK, Switzerland and New Zealand tend to import a significant portion of their animal products from countries where animals experience significant suffering due to lack of protective measures.SolutionThe higher welfare countries can apply their standards to imported animal products by restricting the access of low-welfare animal products that would have been illegal to produce domestically. This can incentivise farmers elsewhere to increase their standards to keep existing supply chains.A law restricting the importation of low-welfare products provides a unique win-win opportunity for both animal advocates and farmers in higher welfare countries, especially in our likely first country of operation: New Zealand. Some farmers are facing tough competition from low-priced low-welfare imports and demand more equal standards between imports and local produce after New Zealand’s decision to phase out farrowing crates on local pig farms by December 2025.Potential ImpactA law passed in New Zealand restricting the importation of animal products that do not adhere to local standards could save approximately 8 million fish per year from suffering poor living conditions, transportation, and slaughter practices; spare 330,000 pigs from cruel farrowing crates and 380,000 chickens from inhumane living conditions.Differences in animal welfare standards: New ZealandBelow is an outline of differences between animal welfare standards in New Zealand and its main importers of particular animals.Fish: In China, Vietnam and Thailand (total 79% of imports in 2020) there is no legislation for fish meaning they may endure slow, painful deaths by asphyxiation, crushing, or even being gutted alive. New Zealand outlines some protections for fish at the time of killing and during transport.Hens: 80% of eggs imported into New Zealand come from China where hens are allowed to be kept in battery cages. Battery cages are illegal in New Zealand from 2023. (Colony (enriched) cages are still used).Pigs: The US, an importer of pork to New Zealand, has no federal ban on the use of sow stalls or farrowing crates, leading to sows being cruelly confined to narrow cages where they cannot perform basic behaviours, turn around, or properly mother their piglets. New Zealand has banned sow stalls, and farrowing crates are being phased out by 2025.Sheep: Australia, which imports wool products to New Zealand, allows several practices that are prohibited in New Zealand, including the extremely cruel practice of mulesing, which involves removing parts of the skin from live sheep without anaesthetic.Next stepsEstablishing connections with potential partner NGOs and industryProducing a policy briefConducting public pollingAddressing the question of legality of import restrictionsMeeting policymakersOpen questionsWill farmers in low-welfare countries be motivated and capable of increasing their animal welfare standards?What enforcement mechanisms should be used?How would a restriction on importation affect the country’s relationships with its trade partners?What externalities (e.g. changes in animal product prices) would such a trade law have?How you can helpExpertise: if you have experience/knowledge in international trade, policy work, WTO laws and can help answer th...