Chairs:	J. Ladewig, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Dept. of Animal Science and Animal Health (DK) F. Ellendorff, Institute for Animal Science and Animal Behaviour, Mariensee Federal Agricultural Research Center (FRG)
Date:	September 4, 2000
Location:	Institute of Animal Science and Animal Behaviour, FAL Mariensee

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Final Statement "Animal welfare relates to the animal's ability to cope with its environment". Based on this premise, animal welfare is to be increasingly concerned with the biological needs and the abilities of the animals to adapt in accordance with genetic predisposition and multifunctional expression. A concept of animal welfare based solely on ethology can no longer be justified. Globally changing structure in agricultural animal husbandry and progress in breeding and biotechnology have brought new challenges to the science of animal welfare. In future, new technologies should also be judged from the standpoint of animal welfare. There are large differences worldwide in the acceptance of and the assumption of the necessity of animal welfare; prevailing notions in rich countries are often perceived as efforts to raise trade barriers. Therefore it is necessary to establish mandatory international standards of animal welfare for world trade agreements. These standards must be based on established scientific knowledge and practical experience. The animal farmer works to produce income. If animal production is to continue in Europe, the additional costs incurred by animal welfare provisions must be covered. Farmers and trade organizations will be the driving force behind improving animal welfare to the degree that consumers are willing to pay for animal welfare.