Sustainability Language

Coffee, Cocoa & Agricultural Commodities

Animal welfare

The physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies, governed internationally by WOAH standards and the Five Freedoms.

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Definition

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Code, animal welfare means "the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies." The widely recognised Five Freedoms — from hunger and thirst; fear and distress; heat stress and discomfort; pain, injury and disease; and freedom to express normal behaviour — describe society's expectations for animals under human control.

References

Overview

What it means

Animal welfare is a multi-dimensional subject with scientific, ethical, economic, cultural and religious dimensions. It applies across farming, transport, slaughter, research and aquaculture; WOAH has developed welfare standards for terrestrial animals and farmed fish. It is distinct from "animal rights" (a philosophical position) — welfare standards accept animal use but set conditions for it.

How it is used

Governments transpose WOAH standards into national law; food companies and retailers set welfare requirements in supply chains (housing systems, stunning, transport times); certification and labelling schemes signal welfare levels to consumers. Welfare also features in ESG assessments of food and agriculture companies.

Why it matters

Livestock supply chains involve billions of animals; welfare conditions affect animal health, food safety, antimicrobial use and public trust. Poor welfare creates reputational and regulatory risk for producers, while consumer demand for higher-welfare products is reshaping production systems.

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