The Association’s Views and Policy on Animal Welfare for Laying Hens

November 29, 2024

Japan Association of Mayonnaise & Dressings

（1）Animal welfare, as recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), calls for the comprehensive provision of a comfortable rearing environment for animals in accordance with five fundamental principles (Five Freedoms):
(i)Freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst
(ii)Freedom from fear and distress
(iii)Freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort
(iv)Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
(v)Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior

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（2）WOAH has established animal welfare standards (WOAH Codes) for each major livestock species. Around the world, efforts to promote animal welfare are being advanced through various institutional and incentive-based measures, tailored to each country’s geographical, regional, cultural, and historical context.
Note: During the May 2021 General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, no OIE Code, as it was called at the time, for laying hens reached adoption due to wide differences in opinion among member countries. However, the Japanese government supports the proposed draft.

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（3）In Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has issued notifications titled “Basic Approach to the Rearing and Management of Livestock with Consideration for Animal We/fare（アニマルウェルフェアに配虜した家畜の飼蓑管理の基本的な考え方について） ” （issued by the Livestock Industry Bureau in 2017 and 2020）. Further, in July 2023, MAFF released technical guidelines for the livestock husbandry management of each livestock species, reflecting actual farming conditions and providing concrete steps for implementation.
Currently, efforts are underway by MAFF to promote these guidelines with farmers. Going forward, Japan plans to assess the status of implementation in line with the guidelines and, based on the results, consider setting target achievement years for each “recommended practice.”

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（4）For laying hens, the EU, the United States, and other countries have introduced regulatory measures that promote cage-free (floor-rearing) systems, placing particular emphasis on the fifth freedom-freedom to express normal patterns of behavior. In addition, a growing number of global companies are committing to the procurement of cage-free eggs. In Japan as well, cage-free eggs for household consumption and processed foods made with cage-free eggs have gradually begun to appear on the market.

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（1）In Japan, prior to World War II, it was common for small- and medium-scale farmers to raise laying hens in backyard, floor-rearing systems. After the war, as dietary habits changed and demand for eggs surged, cage rearing-offering advantages in terms of hygiene, protection from wild animals, and prevention of stress and injuries caused by pecking among hens-became increasingly widespread alongside growth in the number of birds raised.
Today, over 90% of farmers use efficient cage-rearing systems, supporting the stable domestic supply of eggs that meets」apan’s high demand. In fiscal 2022, annual domestic egg production totaled 2.597 million tons1, with per capita consumption at 339 eggs per year-ranking second in the world2

※1：”The 98th Statistical Yearbook of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries” Statistics Department, MAFF
Note: The 2022 figure is used here because egg production in 2023 declined significantly due to a major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
※2：According to the International Egg Commission (IEC), now known as the World Egg Organisation

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（2） At the same time, consumer preferences are becoming increasingly diverse, and the number of producers adopting cage-free rearing methods is gradually growing.

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（1）Approximately 20% of Japan’s total egg production (2.597 million tons) is used as rawmaterial for food processing and manufacturing. For member companies of the Japan Association of Mayonnaise & Dressings, which produce mayonnaise and dressings that rely heavily on eggs as essential ingredients、ensuring the sustainable development of Japan’s poultry industry and stable procurement of domestically produced eggs is a matter of critical importance.
In particular, the Association believes that as efforts are made to ensure the sustainable development of」apan’s poultry industry, it is essential to promote livestock husbandry management that aligns with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare, while also considering Japan’s unique natural environment, geographical constraints such as limited land area, and cultural practice of consuming raw eggs.

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（2）The Association also believes it is important to balance the sustainable developmentof Japan’s poultry industry with supporting egg producers’ operations, particularly as they must ensure a stable supply of eggs-an essential source of protein in」apan- amid recurring outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and rising costs for feed and other key resources.

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（3）Furthermore, regarding how efforts in line with the Five Freedoms should be implemented, the Association believes the following points are particularly important:

•The management decisions of individual egg producers must be respected;
•It is essential to promote rearing practices that comprehensively aim to provide better environments in accordance with all five principles, rather than focusing on only one of the Five Freedoms.
On this point, the Association supports the position outlined in the notification issued by the Director-General of the Livestock Industry Bureau at MAFF on July 26, 2023, titled “Promotion of Farm Animal Management Based on the International Standards for Animal We/fare in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health.”
The notification clearly states that, in terms of animal welfare-oriented livestock husbandry management, “it is necessary for those concerned to fully understand that this is not achieved only by the development of specific facilities and equipment.” The Association supports this view and will continue gathering information and insights on animal husbandry practices to support all Five Freedoms.

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（4）The Association believes that for egg products produced with consideration for animal welfare to become more widespread and established in」apan, it is essential to promote comprehensive understanding of animal welfare among consumers and to foster communication and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders.

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The Japan Association of Mayonnaise & Dressings recognizes animal welfare for laying hens as a critical issue. Since 2021, the Association has been promoting the following initiatives.

【2021】

• Collected information and insights on domestic and international developments related to animal welfare for laying hens, and shared them among members through lectures and discussions with MAFF, livestock technology organizations, and academic experts

【2022】

• Nominated member company representatives as committee members for MAFF’s animal welfare discussion meetings
• Submitted public comments as an association in response to MAFF’s draft farm animal management guidelines for laying hens

【Summary of Submitted Comments】

• Proactive promotion of measures following the establishment of MAFF’s new farm animal management guidelines.
• To ensure the effectiveness of the guidelines, it is important to introduce visible indicators or labeling that allow consumers to make informed decisions. To prevent confusion from the proliferation of various standards and foster accurate consumer understanding, a unified and specific certification system is necessary. The Association requests that comprehensive indicators or benchmarks be provided by the government or an independent third-party organization.
• Efforts should be made to disseminate information and raise awareness among consumers, industry stakeholders, and overseas audiences that livestock products produced in accordance with the guidelines meet WOAH international standards and reflect consideration for animal welfare.
• The government should actively implement a range of support measures to ensure a stable supply of livestock products produced in line with the farm animal management guidelines.
• For livestock products that reflect animal welfare considerations to be produced, used in food manufacturing, and smoothly delivered to consumers, it is essential to foster shared understanding and awareness among all stakeholders in the supply chain, based on accurate knowledge, technical expertise, and real-world conditions. The Association calls for government agencies to play an even greater role in supporting these efforts.

【2023】

• Reviewed and discussed the draft farm animal management guidelines for laying hens issued by MAFF
• Reviewed and discussed domestic certification systems related to livestock products, particularly those involving laying hens
• Held discussions with academic experts to understand the costs and other issues associated with animal welfare for laying hens
• Exchanged views with animal welfare organizations in Japan

【2024】

• Continued dialogue with animal welfare organizations in Japan
• Reviewed and discussed future animal welfare initiatives planned by egg producer associations
• Organized and clarified the Association’s position on animal welfa re for laying hens

　Based on the perspectives outlined above and the initiatives undertaken to date, the Japan Association of Mayonnaise & Dressings will implement the following measures to further advance animal welfare for laying hens:

1.Promote a shared understanding among member companies that animal welfare for laying hens is a key social issue that they should address, and that it is important to promote livestock husbandry management that reflects the Five Freedoms.

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2.Continue to gather and share domestic and international knowledge and information related to animal welfare for laying hens.

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3.Engage in dialogue and exchange of opinions with stakeholders, government agencies, academic experts, and related organizations, among other activities.

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