Woolworths walks away from global benchmark for animal welfare

Woolworths has sensationally ended all association with a “radical” global animal welfare benchmark whose backers want to halve the number of animals farmed for food.

Woolworths has ended all association with a “radical” global animal-welfare benchmark whose backers want to end factory farming and halve the number of animals farmed for food globally by 2040.

It follows a revelation by The Weekly Times in January that Australia’s biggest supermarket chains were aligning their animal welfare policies with the Business Benchmark of Farm Animal Welfare. Woolworths was also seeking Tier 1 ‘leadership’ status under the benchmark, while Coles sought to improve its ranking.

The ranking system, set up by two UK-based animal activist organisations, rates some of the world’s largest agribusinesses and food retailers on their animal welfare practices.

In a recent sustainability report, Coles says it too was “aspiring to improve our (BBFAW) score”.

A Woolworths Group spokeswoman this week said while the retail giant had previously used the BBFAW to measure progress, it no longer aspired to its Tier 1 rating following a review and in consideration of recent changes to the BBFAW criteria.

These included adding the internationally-recognised best practice of using carbon dioxide to stun pigs before slaughter to its hit list, and judging companies on their willingness to cut back on the number of animals farmed for food.

“Unfortunately, the international benchmark fails to recognise the unique context of Australian farming, and the ways our farmers care for animals in a different climate and geography,” the Woolworths spokeswoman said.

“This decision in no way detracts from our unwavering dedication to animal welfare – rather it reflects our scientific, outcomes-based approach to delivering produce which cares for the animals in our supply chain.”

In 2020, the Woolworths Group included the BBFAW in its 2025 Sustainability Plan.

Picture: Nicole Cleary

The supermarket giant also this week revealed a willingness to support calls by industry to develop a uniquely Australian set of animal welfare standards.

It comes as the federal government continues to work on a new national animal welfare framework to correct “a lot of misconceptions” in international markets regarding Australia’s farming standards.

NFF vice president David Jochinke said farmers were willing to work with supermarkets to develop a set of welfare standards that “aligns to their values, gives surety to consumers and demonstrates our good practice”.

David Jochinke, Victorian farmer and National Farmers Federation vice president. Picture: Supplied

The Woolworths spokeswoman said its own welfare standards for suppliers, developed independent of the BBFAW, would remain unchanged.

It also intends working in partnership with local farmers and producers to improve “real animal welfare outcomes” and local benchmarks as “we still believe it’s important that retailers and producers are measured on animal welfare by independent experts”.

The BBFAW independently selects retailers and suppliers for its benchmarking program and retailers do not have the option to opt out.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Agriculture Ministers’ Council last week discussed progress on the renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy to cement nationally consistent animal welfare arrangements.

According to a communique, ministers agreed that “both the agriculture sector and the general community have a strong interest in the humane treatment of animals”.

A Coles spokeswoman previously said it would continue to use “a range of measures of performance in animal welfare rather than the singular use of the BBFAW”.