Chapter 02 · Nature, land & waterCoffee, Cocoa & Agricultural Commodities
Animal welfare
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
Terrestrial Code definition; Five Freedoms; aquatic animal standards; multi-dimensional character.
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.