1. Scope and objectives of the Policy
This Policy of HKFoods Group (“Group” or “HKFoods”) includes the main principles for animal welfare. In addition to HKFoods Corporation, the Group consists of
- subsidiaries where HKFoods’s ownership is more than 50% and
- associates where the Group exercises decision-making power based on the Articles of Association or a shareholder agreement. All subsidiaries must respect and follow this Policy at all times.
The health, welfare and good treatment of production animals are prerequisites for the Group’s sustainable operations. HKFoods is committed to promoting these aspects at all stages of the value chain.
HKFoods’s animal welfare commitment covers all animal species under contract production: genetics, feeding, rearing conditions and animal care on farms, live animal transport and slaughterhouse operations throughout the value chain.
2. Animal welfare as part of the HKFoods strategy
Good animal care, appropriate husbandry conditions and the ability to meet essential behavioural needs are the basis for animal health and welfare. A healthy and satisfied animal is a prerequisite for the livelihood of both HKFoods and the producer. Animal welfare is one of the core values in HKFoods’s sustainable business model and is integrated into the company’s annual risk management process.
3. Compliance - animal health and welfare
HKFoods's animal welfare work is based on EU and national legislation, which HKFoods is committed to complying with in its own production processes. HKFoods requires all of its contract farms and partners to comply with animal welfare regulations and HKFoods’s contractual terms. The contractual terms describe in more detail the criteria and procedures related to animal welfare.
The Five Freedoms of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) shall be used as guiding principles.
All care that can reasonably be expected to be given to animals shall be provided, including protection from (1) thirst, hunger and malnutrition; (2) physical and physiological discomfort; (3) pain, injury and disease; (4) fear, distress and chronic stress, and (5) the limitation of their natural behaviour.
We meet the expectations of our stakeholders and society by evaluating and developing our activities to improve animal welfare. We engage in open dialogue with our stakeholders.
4. Main principles
4.1 Commitment of contract partners
HKFoods works to ensure that its supply chain and partners are committed to promoting animal welfare in the following ways:
- By providing training, conducting advisory farm visits and preparing advisory guidelines for developing the competence of contract producers, employees and contract partners to promote animal
- By actively participating, in cooperation with the industry, producers and other stakeholders, in development and research projects, initiatives and the preparation of legislation focusing on animal welfare
- By communicating on animal welfare matters in an open manner and based on facts, and by sharing their expertise with all stakeholders.
Together with our stakeholders, we seek solutions for more responsible and sustainable production animal husbandry, taking into account species-specific needs of animals and environmental impacts and the One Health[1] concept. Good production animal health is a prerequisite for animal welfare, thus reducing the need for medicine.
Producer wellbeing is one of the most important factors affecting the welfare of animals. HKFoods is committed to supporting and providing advisory assistance in situations where a contract partner needs expertise in animal welfare.
HKFoods monitors the performance of its contract farms and audits its contract partners regularly. HKFoods also develops reporting tools and guidelines to support responsible practices. The assessment of animal welfare in the production chain covers breeding, contract farms, transport and slaughterhouses.
4.2 Guidelines and instructions supplementing the Animal Welfare Policy have been determined in the
- producer’s manual and production contracts,
- production instructions for producers,
- instructions for the operators of animal transport vehicles, and
- standard operating procedures for handling living animals and slaughtering.
5. Responsibilities and roles
The Board of Directors approves this Policy. Business Unit management is responsible for planning and resourcing operations, and actual execution in line with the Policy. HKFoods expects each of its employees to take responsibility and to comply with this Policy and all guidelines under it.
6. Controls and reviews
Animal welfare compliance is reported to the Business Units. This Policy is regularly reviewed by the Board of Directors (“BoD”). The BoD regularly evaluates the management and the effectiveness of implementation of this Policy.
7. Policy changes
Amendments to this Policy, except for changes of technical nature and those that do not change the overall concept of the Policy, must be approved by BoD. Such technical changes shall be approved by the Policy owner. The BoD shall be informed of all modifications.
8. Communication and implementation
Animal Sourcing is responsible for communicating, training and implementing this Policy throughout the Group to ensure that all employees have a clear and consistent understanding of the Policy.
9. Internal controls and reviews
The policy owner is responsible for establishing adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with this Policy, related guidelines, instructions and processes. Regular reviews by internal and external parties shall be conducted to assess the implementation of and compliance with this Policy.
10. Consequences of non-compliance
The Group’s best interests should always be considered in decision-making. Any relationships that may or appear to constitute a conflict of interest must be disclosed in line with the Group Code of Conduct.
If an HKFoods employee breaches this Policy, appropriate consequences, including possible termination of employment, shall be imposed. The breach may be reported to the relevant local authorities if HKFoods suspects that the conduct of the breaching employee is also in breach of the relevant legislation.
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Approved by the Board of Directors of HKFoods Plc on 8 February 2024.
[1] One Health – mutual health of humans, animals and the environment
The detection in the early 2000s of pandemically spreading new viral diseases and threats led to the creation of “One Health”, a holistic concept of the inevitability of collaboration between human and animal health and the protection of the ecosystem. The movement, initiated by physicians and veterinarians, emerges from the idea that the health of humans and animals is interconnected and connected with the environment, and that changes in the environment will have a significant impact on health. Problems associated with health, such as antimicrobial resistance or zoonoses, require global solutions.