International animal welfare initiative Respectful Life launches new important steps towards increased animal welfare in third countries

 

• Introduction of camera monitoring with initiative members in Argentina and Uruguay
• Partnership with independent auditing partner SGS to evaluate member efforts

 

Brussels/Geneva/Paris, 28 September 2021 - Respectful Life, a global initiative to assess and improve the welfare of horses within the equine supply chain, is launching two important additions to its global programme. As of today, the initiative will monitor all operations with members of the programme in Argentina and Uruguay through constant camera screening, and through a partnership with external auditing company SGS the programme will evaluate all of the members in the programme. Through the constant camera screening in the associated sites in Argentina and Uruguay, the academics specialized in animal welfare from the renowned university KU Leuven can constantly track how to improve horse animal welfare to European standards. In addition to the scientific analysis and recommendations on how each member can improve their operations to better accommodate the welfare of the animals they process, Respectful Life is now partnering with external auditing company SGS who will track and evaluate every member’s efforts in line with the programme’s standards. Respectful Life is a promising programme, carried by the equine industry in partnership with leading academics which has shown a significant impact over 5 years.

 

“We are by far the only global initiative making such a positive impact for animal welfare”, says Cédric Charon, coordinator of the Respectful Life programme. "Since we started five years ago, we have been able to make a meaningful difference in the equine supply chain. It is our mission to raise the animal welfare standard all over the world – based on real scientific insights. It is great to see that both academics and our horse industry members are invested in improving horse animal welfare. Ultimately, a decent horse animal welfare is not only vital for the horses but also for the industry."

 

Camera monitoring in 5 sites in Argentina & Uruguay

In partnership with its members, the Respectful Life initiative has installed cameras in the sites of all of its member slaughterhouses in Argentina and Uruguay. This 24/7 video surveillance will allow professors and scholars from KU Leuven’s animal welfare department to monitor the internal state of affairs at the slaughterhouses and identify areas for improvement. As a result, the holistic assessment of how the slaughterhouses tackle horse animal welfare will be conducted in a highly efficient and effective manner. The academics publish their findings publicly under Respectful Life and work with the members to implement the necessary changes.

 

Independent auditor to evaluate member efforts

As of today, Respectful Life is partnering with independent auditor SGS who will audit all member companies in the programme starting this month. Through unannounced audits, they will inspect every member site and evaluate the different actions and processes which impact horse animal welfare based on the standards set by the academics of KU Leuven. The academics will also continuously supervise these audits.

 

“Our auditing partner will evaluate whether all of our members adhere to the recommendations made  by our scientific committee. This to ensure everyone, be it retailers or consumers, that when they buy from a member of the Respectful Life initiative, they are guaranteed that the horse meat adhere to the most strict quality and animal welfare standards.”, adds Cédric Charon, coordinator of the Respectful Life programme.

 

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About Respectful Life

Respectful Life is a joint initiative between the Belgian Meat Federation Febev, and the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). The main players in the horsemeat industry have joined forces to fund a research project to identify key parameters for the welfare of horses. The aim of the project is industry-led optimisation of horse well-being within the equine meat supply chain. Researchers will determine objective measures for horse welfare. Secondly, where useful, the project’s recommendations and conclusions will be used to revise the Homefe Guidelines.

For more information, please visit www.respectfullife.com