AWI Urges Consumers to Take Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE URGES CONSUMERS TO TAKE ACTION:
USDA SEEKS COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC ON DEFINITION OF LABELING MEAT
PRODUCTS AS "NATURALLY RAISED"
JANUARY 28, 2008 IS DEADLINE FOR CONSUMER COMMENTS
Washington, DC--The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking comments on a proposed
voluntary standard for a "naturally raised" marketing claim for meats.
According to its Notice and Request for Comments for Docket
AMS-LS-07-0131; LS-07-16, "the livestock and meat supply chain, along
with consumers could benefit from a uniform standard for the marketing
of this type of product."
The definition for "naturally raised" proposed by USDA is:
Livestock used for the production of meat and meat products have been
raised entirely without growth promotants, antibiotics, and have never
been fed mammalian or avian by-products. This information shall be
contained on any label claim that an animal has been naturally raised.
Cathy Liss, President of the Animal Welfare Institute, asks consumers
to urge the USDA to include animal welfare criteria in the standards.
"We are seeking a better result. The definition as proposed contains
no stipulations concerning the animals' own welfare or how the animals
live, but applies narrow criteria related only to feed or other
substances administered to animals. While farmers who raise animals
under high welfare conditions should be covered by this term, the
industrial producers will seek a weak definition so they can profit by
selling the products of cruelly raised animals labeled as `naturally
raised.'"
According to the USDA, prohibiting use of antibiotics, growth
promotants, and certain animal by-products are the main attributes
consumers want for "naturally-raised" meat and meat products. However,
many ranchers, farmers, and others testified in public meetings in
2006 and 2007 that the ability of animals to range freely, eat diets
natural to their species, and engage in natural behaviors are
essential aspects of a "naturally raised" claim.
Also, in July 2007, the independent Consumer Reports revealed that 83%
of consumers polled regarding meat labels said a "natural" label
should mean "it came from an animal raised in a natural environment."
See page 15 of Consumer Reports Survey.
The Animal Welfare Institute asks consumers to urge the USDA to write
a definition for "naturally raised" that:
* requires farm animals, including poultry, to be raised in a manner
that is consistent with the biology and natural behavior of the
species;
* disqualifies farms that use gestation crates, farrowing crates,
battery cages, calf crates, slatted floors and liquefied manure,
and other equipment or facilities typical of unnatural factory
systems; and
* requires that animals have free access to continuous range on
fresh pasture or woodlands, or, in inclement weather, be able to
move freely in comfortable housing and clean bedding until outdoor
conditions improve.
Additional points that could be added include:
* While it is appropriate to disallow routine administration of
antibiotics to all animals via feed or water, individual animals
that are sick should be able to receive therapeutic antibiotic
treatment if needed. To deny them necessary veterinary care is
inhumane.
* All animals should be provided with free and continuous access to
nutritionally complete food and clean water consistent with the
animals' natural diets (e.g., grass and hay for cattle.
* Crowding of animals should be prohibited.
* Tail docking of pigs, beak trimming of chickens and turkeys and
other mutilations necessitated by unnatural environments should be
prohibited.
* The use of hormones or other agents, including beta-agonists and
ractopamine, to promote growth and increase production should be
prohibited.
* Early weaning, before the immune systems of the young are fully
developed, should be prohibited.
* Genetic selection for high growth rates and high rates of
reproduction that reduce the animals' ability to reproduce
naturally and thrive in environments natural to its species should
be prohibited. Examples include selection that makes natural birth
difficult without human intervention (double muscled cattle) or
makes normal reproduction impossible (conventionally bred
turkeys).
The Animal Welfare Institute believes that a solid definition of
"naturally raised" must be adopted by USDA to serve consumers, farmers
and particularly the farm animals by differentiating the practices of
farmers who address the physical and behavioral needs of their animals
from the factory farms that don't.
To contact the Animal Welfare Institute call (703) 836-4300 or email
lauren@awionline.org.
All comments, due by January 28, should reference docket number
LS-07-16.
Comments can be submitted via:
The AMS web site at http://www.regulations.gov/ (insert "naturally
raised" in the search box provided on the site) or click on Comment
Form to go directly to the online form.
Regular Mail:
Naturally Raised Marketing Claim
Room 2607-S, AMS, USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-0254
By Fax (202) 720-1112.
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CONTACT:
Beth Hauptle
703.619.6496
beth@awionline.org
www.animalwelfareapproved.org
Posted by Animal Welfare Institute at 11:43 AM
Labels: humane, livestock, natural, USDA
Friday, January 4, 2008
Representative and Mrs. Tom Lantos Leaving Congress
Humanitarians dedicated to reducing the suffering off both human and
non-human animals throughout the world
Washington, DC (January 4, 2008) - The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)
wishes to recognize U.S. Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA) with its
"Profiles in Compassion" award for his uncompromising leadership on
animal welfare issues throughout his 14 terms in the U.S. Congress. As
the founder and co-chair of Congressional Friends of Animals, he
created a valuable forum to discuss and further legislative
initiatives on behalf of animals.
During his long career, Representative Lantos and his wife Annette
championed many animal welfare bills, including efforts to protect
pets from sale to research laboratories, end the slaughter of horses
for human consumption, and ensure a peaceful retirement for
chimpanzees previously used in federally funded research.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Representative Lantos and Christopher
Shays (R-CT) introduced the Pets Evacuation and Transportation
Standards (PETS) Act, H.R. 3858, to address the fate of companion
animals in the case of natural disasters - requiring local authorities
to adopt pet evacuation plans for future emergencies if their
governments wanted to receive federal aid. The law was adopted in
October 2006. Most recently, he spoke out against dog fighting,
China's cruel methods of dealing with its dog populations, and the
Canadian seal hunt.
"Killing baby seals echoes the torture and cruel killing of so many
other animals around the world," Representative Lantos said on the
House floor. "As co-chairman of the Congressional Friends of Animals
Caucus, I will continue to bring the world's attention to such
practices wherever they exist."
True to his word, Representative Lantos assisted AWI's efforts to
protect whales last spring by signing a letter to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez,
instructing them to fight harder for whale conservation and against
commercial whaling at the May 2007 International Whaling Commission
meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
Representative and Mrs. Lantos are perhaps best known for their
dedicated work supporting human rights, but their efforts on behalf of
non-human animals will always be remembered. In their home state of
California, the Peninsula Humane Society has announced it will name
its planned $15 million animal adoption facility the Tom and Annette
Lantos Center for Compassion. President Ken White explained that
Lantos believes caring for those who cannot care for themselves is
part of "what makes us the kind of society we want to be."
AWI and many others will sincerely miss Representative and Mrs.
Lantos' presence on Capitol Hill. Not only were they true animal
advocates, but they were personable to boot, with both husband and
wife - nearly always accompanied by their beloved dog Maxco - making
every effort to engage younger generations in the fight to end animal
cruelty.
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For over 57 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across
the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing
campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on
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