AWSBC

OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) appoints expert groups to assist with its global animal health and welfare roles, and recognises them as Collaborating Centres

OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis (Asia, the Far East and Oceania)

The Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre (AWSBC) at Massey University became the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis (Asia, the Far East and Oceania) by resolution of the OIE General Session in May 2007. The first OIE Collaborating Centre in New Zealand and, at that time, the only one in the world fully dedicated to animal welfare, its role was to provide expert scientific, bioethical and advisory support for the OIE’s global animal welfare initiative which began in 2001.

Relevant Collaborating Centre Expertise at Massey University

As the original OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis the OIE accesses our unique combination of expertise as follows:

  • Demonstrated high-level competency in animal welfare, applied animal behaviour, animal husbandry, livestock systems, veterinary and wildlife sciences
  • Successful application of these sciences to managing animal health and welfare problems related to farm livestock, companion animals and wild animals
  • Substantial expertise in vertebrate pest control research, including the assessment, development and application of acceptable control methods
  • A capacity for high-quality bioethical analysis at the science-ethics interface in the above areas
  • Recognised international contributor to the science, ethics, practicality and regulation of research, testing and teaching activities that use animals
  • Considerable success in using relevant science and good practice to develop soundly based and defensible minimum animal welfare standards in codes of practice or regulations
  • Considerable experience in mounting courses in animal welfare and related sciences and international conferences in those areas
  • Wide experience and success in facilitating discussions, working groups and committee deliberations to achieve constructive and workable animal health and welfare outcomes.

Expansion of the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis

A key strength of the Massey University Centre is its longstanding cooperative links with numerous other centres worldwide, among which are especially strong links with four other internationally recognised animal welfare science groups in part of the world.

The five major groups, including the AWSBC, in New Zealand and Australia are as follows:

New Zealand

Australia

As the complementary strengths of all five groups combined more effectively encompass the multidimensional character of animal welfare science and bioethics than do the strengths of any one of them alone, it was recognised that a more formal linkage creating a multi-group Collaborating Centre would further improve support for the OIE’s international animal welfare leadership role. Moreover, it would profile globally the collective expertise available in this part of the world.

A novel proposal to establish just such a multi-group Collaborating Centre was developed, with full support from the AWSBC (Massey), by MAF New Zealand and DAFF Australia, and was jointly submitted to the OIE by the Chief Veterinary Officers of both countries for consideration in May 2008.

In May 2009, the OIE General Session approved the expanded multi-group centre as the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis.

Further information about each of the other groups is available from their web sites (see above)

Governance

The Centre is managed by the “Centre Management Committee”, with members drawn from each of the National Government Agencies and the five research groups identified. The principal point of contact is through the country Government nominee currently holding the role of Chair on the Centre Management Committee, which alternates between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of the Australian National Government (with New Zealand providing the inaugural Chair in 2009, 2010).

New Zealand Government contact:

Director Animal Welfare
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND 6140

Telephone      (64) 4 894 0368
Email:              david.bayvel@maf.govt.nz

Australian Government contact:

Manager Animal Welfare
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA

Telephone      (61) 2 6272 5590
Email:              peter.thornber@daff.gov.au

OIE Links

Page authorised by Director, Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre
Last updated on Wednesday 27 January 2010