Abstract:

The emergence of animal welfare based trade barrier, its characteristics and impact on international trade were scrutinized, and the problems existing in the animal welfare of our country and the gap between us and the developed countries identified. An evaluation of the influence of animal welfare policies on China’s export trade of animals, animal products and related services was done. A proposal to build an animal welfare protection system, which is suited to the conditions in China and conforms to international practices is presented consisting of 8 points:①vigorously push ahead with the legislature of China’s animal welfare law；②truly elevate the level of animal welfare protection in China；③give top priority to intensifying the legislative procedure for an entry/exit animal welfare law；④absorb the efforts of the industry in the entry/exit animal welfare law legislating process；⑤take full advantage of the WTO machine to counter foreign animal welfare trade barriers；⑥set up and update an early warning system for animal welfare trade barriers；⑦apply the hazard analysis and critical control point principle in managing animal welfare；⑧gradually establish an animal welfare accreditation system for livestock farms.

Key words: animal welfare; technical barriers on trade; exit/entry animal quarantine; animal; animal products; international trade