Basic Views
The NH Foods Group recognizes its moral and ethical responsibility in ensuring animal health and welfare standards are maintained throughout our business processes.
In 2020, we has set “Promote initiatives that take animal welfare into consideration” as one of the specific measures and indicators of the Five Materialities. We formulated the NH Foods Group Animal Welfare Core Values in November 2021 and the NH Foods Group Animal Welfare Code of Conduct that firmly sets out the conduct we expect in accordance with Group business processes In January 2022.
Animal Welfare Core Values
NH Foods Group Animal Welfare Core Values
The NH Foods Group (NH) recognizes its moral and ethical responsibility in ensuring animal health and welfare standards are maintained throughout our business processes. Our core values are reflected in our high standards as we strive to achieve the best practices for the respectful and humane treatment of animals.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) developed an OIE Global Animal Welfare Strategy with the objective of achieving “A world where the welfare of animals is respected, promoted and advanced, in ways that complement the pursuit of animal health, human well-being, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability.” NH agrees with the principles established by the OIE and is committed to promoting the following five freedoms:
- Freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst；
- Freedom from fear and distress；
- Freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort；
- Freedom from pain, injury, and disease；and
- Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior.
We are aware that reducing stress and controlling illness in our animals can lead to improved food safety. We continue to work with our business partners to ensure that animal health and welfare standards are addressed where necessary.
NH further seeks to promote dialogue and share relevant information with key stakeholders.
By working to improve animal health and welfare, it is NH’s mission to carry on its business practices with our impact on the environment and ways to contribute to a more sustainable society in mind.
Established on November 10, 2021
Note: These core values were established with the approval of the NH Foods Ltd. Board of Directors.
Animal Welfare Code of Conduct
NH Foods Group as a supplement to its Animal Welfare Core Values, has established this Animal Welfare Code of Conduct to guide us on animal health and welfare standards throughout our business processes.
Promotion Systems
Policies, policy formulation, and initiatives related to Animal welfare are discussed by the Sustainability Committee, deliberated on by management committees, and referred to the Board of Directors, which is the decision-making body.
Targets
Materiality has the following specific goals.
・Elimination of gestation crates on all farms* in Japan (pigs) (by the end of FY2030)
・Installation of drinking water facilities in lairage pens at all meat processing plants* in Japan (pigs and cattle) (by the end of FY2023)
・Installation of cameras on all farms and meat processing plants* in Japan to ensure environmental quality (by the end of FY2024)
Note: For companies in which the NH Foods Group holds a majority stake
Major Initiatives
Initiatives to reduce stress in mother pigs
Nippon Clean Farm Co., Ltd. is working to reduce the stress of pigs being raised at its Oshamambe Chirai and Oshamambe Ayame Farms (both in Hokkaido), Raiman Farm (in Aomori) by eliminating gestation crates for pigs. Reducing the stress of mother pigs raises productivity.
We are installing cameras with the goal of enhancing the quality of livestock rearing and rearing environments at our farms and processing plants in Japan.
Initiatives to reduce stress in cattle and chickens
Whyalla Beef Pty. Ltd., one of the largest and most technically advanced feedlot operations in Australia, is establishing low-stress rearing environments for its cattle through efforts such as installing sunshades to protect cattle from direct sunlight and providing water and feed in a way that takes into account safety and sanitation.
Ege-Tav, our chicken rearing business in Turkey, is working to make its farms stress-free for chickens, including by paying attention to the rearing space, environmental temperature, and ventilation of its farms.
Stakeholder Dialogues
In recent years, concern regarding the welfare of livestock animals has been growing so we have been regularly exchanging opinions with animal welfare experts.