First Session of the OIE “Improved Animal Welfare Programme”

Paris, 30 October 2012 – The first training of trainers (TOT) session of the OIE “Improved Animal Welfare Programme” will take place in Bogor, Indonesia from 30^th October to 2^nd November 2012 with the support of the Government of Indonesia and of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

“The OIE actively promotes the implementation of animal welfare standards adopted by its  Member Countries in the region and provides veterinarians with information and skills in this field. Continuous learning, starting with coaches, is one efficient way to fill the gap between OIE animal welfare standards and their appropriate effective implementation,” emphasised OIE Director General, Dr Bernard Vallat.

The OIE “Improved Animal Welfare Programme” aims to improve the welfare of farm animals during transport and at slaughterhouses in some Member Countries. This workshop will deliver comprehensive information to selected future trainers to improve understanding of OIE animal welfare standards and support their implementation by stakeholders. The Programme will take into consideration the local context in which OIE standards should be implemented.

Further sessions in the region are already planned: the Philippines are next to benefit from the Programme.

Also in the region, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will host the next OIE Global Conference on Animal Welfare from 6^th to 8^th of November 2012, which is aimed, among others, at addressing regional expectations for implementation of OIE Standards. National representatives, stakeholders and scientists from the 178 OIE Member Countries are invited to participate.