Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1060I Checklist

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 June 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 2 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Dated Issued: 07/20/17 Approved by __________JW

GENERAL ANIMAL WELFARE CHECKLIST

 Audit the Program against the following Program requirements:

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS – OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Introduction to the 

Recommendations for Animal Welfare

(1) Identify animal welfare scheme program documents and sections that address each criterion. 

(2) Explanations and/or comments must be provided to provide enough evidence of conformance 

or non-conformance, as applicable.

OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health 

Code, General Animal Welfare 

Criteria

Applicant 

Reference 

Document

Conform 

(Y/N?)

Objective Evidence/Findings/

Remarks

 Criteria for General Animal Welfare

1. The scientific assessment of animal welfare 

involves diverse elements which need to be 

considered together, and that selecting and 

weighing these elements often involves valuebased assumptions which SHOULD be made 

as explicit as possible.

2. Genetic selection SHOULD always take 

into account the health and welfare of 

animals.

3. Animals chosen for introduction into new 

environments SHOULD be suited to the local 

climate and able to adapt to local diseases, 

parasites and nutrition.

4. The physical environment, including the 

substrate (walking surface, resting surface, 

etc.), SHOULD be suited to the species so as 

to minimize risk of injury and transmission of 

diseases or parasites to animals.

5. The physical environment SHOULD allow 

comfortable resting, safe and comfortable 

movement including normal postural changes, 

and the opportunity to perform types of 

natural behavior that animals are motivated to 

perform.

6. Social grouping of animals SHOULD be 

managed to allow positive social behavior and 

minimize injury, distress and chronic fear.

7. For housed animals, air quality, temperature 

and humidity SHOULD support good animal 

health and not be aversive.

Where extreme conditions occur, animals 

SHOULD not be prevented from using their 

natural methods of thermo-regulation.

8. Animals SHOULD have access to sufficient 

feed and water, suited to the animals' age and 

needs, to maintain normal health and 

productivity and to prevent prolonged hunger, 

thirst, malnutrition or dehydration.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1060I Checklist

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 June 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 2 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Dated Issued: 07/20/17 Approved by __________JW

9. Diseases and parasites SHOULD be 

prevented and controlled as much as possible 

through good management practices. Animals 

with serious health problems SHOULD be 

isolated and treated promptly or killed 

humanely if treatment is not feasible or 

recovery is unlikely.

10. Where painful procedures cannot be 

avoided, the resulting pain SHOULD be 

managed to the extent that available methods 

allow.

11. The handling of animals SHOULD foster 

a positive relationship between humans and 

animals and SHOULD not cause injury, panic, 

lasting fear or avoidable stress.

12. Owners and handlers SHOULD have 

sufficient skill and knowledge to ensure that 

animals are treated in accordance with these 

principles.

Note: When this checklist is complete, print to ADOBE and add to the audit documentation.