Public Morals, Science and International Trade: Animal Welfare and the WTO
Many citizens care about the humane treatment of animals. This has led the European Union, the United States and others to enact a variety of animal welfare laws. Examples range from the US Animal Welfare Act to the recent European ban on seal products. At the same time, the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) impose certain limits on trade restrictions. Is there a conflict between animal welfare laws and the WTO? Christoph Hermes is a lawyer at the European Commission in Brussels and has represented the European Union in numerous disputes in front of the WTO. He will present the relevant WTO rules and explore to what extent they leave countries regulatory space to enact animal welfare measures.