Noting that the industrial farming (or “factory farming”) of animals is a method often used in agricultural settings to increase efficiency and lower the cost of production;
Concerned, however, that the stocking densities used in factory farming frequently result in the quick transfer of communicable diseases among animals, many of which can affect public health through both the consumption of meat produced in factory farms, and the direct transfer of diseases from factory farm facilities to workers and the public;
Perturbed that these facts are only overcome through the massive use of medication and antibiotics, a practice which contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria while wasting medications which could instead be used to benefit the health of those actually in need;
Observing that factory farming also has significant, demonstrably negative environmental effects on nearby wildlife and flora, as this approach produces a large amount of biological waste necessitating safe and responsible collection, handling and disposal;
Aware too of the economic effects of factory farming, as by maximising efficiency while disregarding animal health and welfare, the practice fosters anti-competitive practices and the cartelisation of the agricultural industry;
Concluding there to be ample evidence that regulating factory farming is essential to public health, a fair economy, and animal health and welfare;
The World Assembly enacts as follows.
- Definitions: The following provisions must be followed in interpretation of this resolution.
- An “animal” is a non-sapient animal being held in captivity for the purpose of extracting any commodity (“animal product”) directly produced from or by said animal.
- An “industrial farm” is an industrial facility where animals are enclosed en masse and in close proximity to each other.
- Health spacing requirements: No industrial farm may enclose animals in such proximity to other animals as to result in the significantly likely transfer of communicable diseases between said animals, except as necessary for contact between said animals while meeting Section 3 requirements. Nor may any animal be enclosed in a location of such size, design or stocking density as to prevent said animal from engaging in motion or like behaviours necessary to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis from arising in said animal. Both conditions of this Section must be met regardless of any supplements or medication administered to said animals not on an ad hoc basis.
- Welfare spacing requirements: No industrial farm may enclose animals in any location of such size, design or stocking density as to prevent said animal from exercising their full range of motion.
- Exceptions: Sections 2 or 3 may be waived to the minimal extent necessary to prevent physical harm to a animal, or otherwise protect the health or welfare of sapients or animals.
- Waste collection: All industrial farms must
- regularly or continuously collect all biological waste from their animal enclosures; and
- prevent such waste from entering any enclosure other than that enclosure in which it originated; except to administer said waste as feed or nutrients to other animals, should such waste have undergone sufficient processing to minimise any health risk to animals administered with said waste.
- Waste handling: The processing, disposal and transportation of such waste must comply with all relevant subnational, national and international standards regarding handling of toxic materials or biological waste.
- Trade restrictions: Every member nation must fully embargo all international trade of animal products produced in a manner violating this resolution. Nor may any area under member nation jurisdiction be used for trade of such products. This applies regardless of whether such products were produced under World Assembly jurisdiction. For the purposes of this resolution, “animal products” includes any products manufactured or otherwise created therefrom.
- Phase-out: If a member nation can prove to the Compliance Commission that said nation is unable to meet Sections 2 - 7 immediately without causing significant economic damage to said nation, or significantly reducing access to animal products, the Compliance Commission may direct and supervise the gradual implementation of measures in said nation, commencing at once, to bring said nation into compliance with this resolution as promptly as possible without causing such economic damage or significant reduction of access to such products. Such measures shall be implemented in cooperation with said nation.
- Conflicts: The World Assembly shall reserve the power to further restrict industrial farming. Yet, should a provision of this resolution contradict some past World Assembly resolution still in force, that previous resolution takes precedence.