WELFAIR

What is it?

The Welfair ™ seal, whose name is the combination of the words "well" and "fair" (welfare and fair, in English), identifies that the product of animal origin for food, in which it is present, has been monitored in animal welfare both on the farm or production area and at the place of slaughter, obtaining the minimum score required in all the indicators analyzed and strictly complying with the provisions of the European Community. The WelfairTM certification is a certificate approved by the IRTA and is based on the European Welfare Quality standards, which evaluate and control the quality of animal welfare.

The WelfairTM Animal Welfare Certification Scheme is based on an exhaustive audit of the welfare of the animal through its direct observation, as well as its environment, pursuing the objective of verifying compliance with the 5 Freedoms and the 5 General Criteria of Animal Welfare established by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE):

•        The animal does not suffer from thirst, hunger or malnutrition, because it has access to drinking water and a diet adequate to its needs is provided.
•        The animal does not suffer physical or thermal stress, because it is provided with a suitable environment, including shelter from inclement weather and a comfortable resting area.
•        The animal does not suffer pain, injury or disease, thanks to adequate prevention and / or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
•        The animal is capable of displaying most of its normal patterns of behavior, because it is provided with the necessary space and adequate facilities, and it is housed in the company of other individuals of its species.
•        The animal does not experience fear or distress, because the necessary conditions are guaranteed to avoid mental suffering.    

The Welfair ™ certification based on Welfare Quality and AWIN®, has been developed to certify animal welfare on farms, production areas and slaughterhouses, always above legal requirements. In this way, a double check is carried out over what is already done by the competent authority (official veterinarians) to ensure that there is no legal breach in the evaluated facilities. Compliance with the law is established as a prerequisite to be able to access a score and not as part of the score. Farmers from countries with less demanding legislation than the ones from the European Union are required as a prerequisite to be able to certify compliance with the same requirements to which those of the EU are subject. 

What types of certifications do we offer?

Currently, OCA Global certifies Animal Welfare in the following sectors:

• Pork for meat:        
  •                Module: 01 – Pig fattening
  •                Module: 02 – Pig mothers and piglets
  •                Module: 11 – Pig slaughter
• Cattle for meat:        
  •                Module: 04 – Fattening cattle
  •                Module: 12 – Cattle slaughter
• Dairy cattle:        
  •                Module: 05 – Dairy cattle
• Chicken for meat:        
  •                Module: 06 –Broiler
  •                Module: 13 – Chicken slaughter
• Laying hens:        
  •                Module: 07 – Laying hens
• Traceability (all sectors):        
  •                Module: 21 - Traceability