On June 14, the third Animal Welfare and Food Transition Forum attracted nearly 200 participants including industries, government officials, and academics to witness Taiwan's farmed animal welfare potential. The forum, organized by the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST), Carrefour Foundation, and the Jane Goodall Institute Taiwan, showcased the latest international developments and progress made on farmed animal welfare in Taiwan.

Dr. Katharina Kluge presenting Germany's achievements for animal welfare

Dr. Katharina Kluge, Head of the Animal Welfare Unit at the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, shared Germany's achievements on animal welfare, such as prohibiting male chick culling since 2022 and banning castration of piglets without anesthesia from 2021. In a world first, Germany has legislated mandatory animal welfare labelling which will see animal products divided into five classes of animal welfare. The mandatory labelling will apply to fresh pork products sold in supermarkets and butchers from next year, with plans to expand the rollout to other animal products and sales channels.

Kluge also shared the future plans for amending the national Animal Welfare Act and regulations in Germany, including imposing mandatory video surveillance in slaughterhouses, banning year-round tethering of cattle and adding minimum requirements for other species such as turkeys and pullets. “It is important to get everyone on board (…) you won't make progress solely with voluntary measures, at some point you will need legislation” Kluge emphasized as she closed her remarks.

Dave Luo introducing ARE and their research on Protein Transition

Dave Luo, Research Manager of Protein Transition at Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) in Singapore, analyzed important trends in responsible investment and animal welfare in Asia. Luo explained that while livestock products contribute 18% of calories and 37% of protein in the global food supply, they are responsible for 70% of antibiotic use and 16.5% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. This underscores the significant impact of the sector on environmental sustainability and energy transition, a key factor attracting investors' attention to the livestock industry in recent years. ARE has established the Asia Protein Transition Platform, facilitating dialogue between investors and listed companies in Asia, providing food companies with a transformation path to 2030. Luo emphasized that many international sustainability reporting standards have incorporated animal welfare, including the SASB standards that Taiwanese listed companies must refer to starting in 2026. These standards require companies to disclose the proportion of products which meet animal welfare criteria, such as the proportion of sales or production using crate-free or cage-free systems.

Marilyn Su speaking of Carrefour campaigns and their future goals for 2025

Marilyn Su, Director of Corporate Sustainability at Carrefour and CEO of the Carrefour Foundation, emphasized Carrefour’s commitment to sell 100% cage-free eggs by 2025 and establish a value chain for animal-friendly products in Taiwan. Su also emphasized the importance of consumer awareness and willingness to support animal welfare products. Therefore, in 2023, Carrefour introduced the "Starting From I" campaign, which emphasizes sustainability characteristics alongside prices in in-store labeling. "Taiwan's innovations need not be confined to AI and technology alone" said Su , expressing the hope that this initiative will empower consumers and allow Taiwan to keep pace with international standards.

Wu Hung, Chief Executive of EAST, explaining the ISO standards release

Wu Hung, Chief Executive of EAST, pointed out that good animal welfare can help to improve productivity, reduce the risk of diseases, and foster enhanced food safety. The Asia Cage-Free Benchmark, which assessed government support for the transition to cage-free farming, ranked Taiwan sixth. If the government can provide clearer policy guidance and set animal-friendly farming as a development goal, there is opportunity for Taiwan to be recognized by the international community. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released technical specifications for animal welfare management in 2016 (ISO/TS 34700:2016). The technical specifications embody the principles of internationality, universality and objectivity and seek to guide the industry to implement animal welfare standards set out by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a minimum requirement.

In the afternoon, nearly a dozen members of the cage-free egg value chain in Taiwan shared their perspectives on the cage-free transition. The speakers included cage-free farmers embracing the latest international developments, egg processors pioneering cage-free egg products, and hotel and restaurant businesses procuring cage-free eggs.

Farmers, hotel and restaurant stakeholders gathered to present their progress in terms of cage-free eggs and pigs

Sharon Chen, Executive Assistant to Managing Director at Taipei Marriott Hotel, explained that the hotel’s decision to switch to 100% cage-free eggs and milk certified by EAST Certified was driven by their “support for this ideal.” Chen recounted how the hotel overcame sourcing challenges to complete the transition and shared how it is educating its guests and employees about animal welfare.

Silks Hotel Group has committed to switch to cage-free eggs in the Regent Taipei by 2026 and in all group restaurants by 2030. Gary Lo, Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage at Silks Hotel Group, shared how the group is adding value to its egg dishes to support the costs of the transition to cage-free eggs. Lo emphasized that “sustainability cannot be a slogan” and must be incorporated into our every day.

In a surprise announcement, Abraham Tsai, Head Chef of the Madison Taipei, announced that the hotel has transitioned to 100% cage-free eggs, in collaboration with EAST. Madison Taipei is a part of the Cathay Hospitality Management, which operates seven hotels in Taiwan.

Hung Chun-Pin, Chairman of San Jeou Farm, shared his experience converting to group housing systems and adjustable farrowing pens for sows, providing larger, freer spaces for sows, no longer confined to narrow crates and farrowing pens. San Jeou Farm is the first pig farm in Taiwan to earn certification under EAST Certified.

Several next-generation dairy farmers also shared their efforts to implement animal welfare, in the lead up to the trade agreement between New Zealand and Taiwan coming into effect in 2025. Together, they emphasized that Taiwan should enhance dairy cattle welfare if it is compete with New Zealand's more favorable farming environment.

Chen Ting-Fei, legislator in the Legislative Yuan, Chiang Wen-Chuan, Director of the Animal Welfare Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lin Yi-Hua, Deputy Mayor of Taipei City, and Dr. Jörg Polster, Director General of the German Institute in Taipei, were among the distinguished guests. Well-known American photographer Bob Carey also attended, presenting his Pink Tutu project to echo the forum's theme of "seeing animals.”

Bob Carey and their Tutu Project

The third annual Animal Welfare and Food Transition Forum illuminated international advancements and mapped the animal welfare landscape in Taiwan. Forum speakers expressed hope that that industry, government, and academia can work together to accelerate the development of animal-friendly farming, implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and create a modern food supply that is kind to people, animals, and the environment.

Photo credits: Carrefour

Event photos: https://rb.gy/khnq0p 
Presentation files: https://rb.gy/ooqdig 

Media contact

Fang Chu Chune, Director of Campaigns and Communications
Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)
Mobile: +886 (9) 2317 7193
Phone: +886 (2) 2236 9735