23,103 Petitions Submitted to Relevant Ministries to Request Animal Welfare Subsidies

On November 19, 2024, accompanied by House of Councillors member Seiichi Kushida, Animal Rights Center representative Okada, along with two members of the volunteer team advocating for animal welfare subsidies, submitted 23,103 petitions for “Requesting Government Subsidies to Reduce the Suffering of Farm Animals in Japan” to the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

These meetings provided a meaningful opportunity to discuss the dire state of animal welfare in Japan—particularly for farm animals—and the urgent need for improvement.

The discussions highlighted that Japan’s treatment of farm animals ranks among the lowest in the world. Several reasons for this were identified such as weak legal regulations, low public awareness about animal welfare, and the fact that farmers currently bear the entire cost of upgrading facilities to meet animal welfare standards.

The team stressed the need for a government-backed subsidy system to alleviate this financial burden and support improvements.

Farm animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing both joy and suffering. The group emphasized the moral obligation to reduce their suffering during their lifetimes. However, they also acknowledged the limitations of relying solely on the efforts of individuals or private organizations to address this issue.

Okada outlined specific areas where government subsidies are essential to improve animal welfare standards in Japan. Those include funding to improve housing and equipment for livestock, support for procedures to minimize pain during surgical interventions, investments in infrastructure to ensure animals are treated humanely during slaughter, and compensation to farmers for potential revenue losses when transitioning to animal welfare-compliant practices.

The discussions emphasized that improving animal welfare is not a challenge the government, producers, or consumers can solve alone. It requires collaboration and shared accountability among all stakeholders. Representatives also addressed the specific roles of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of the Environment in tackling this issue.

A major challenge raised during the meeting was the fragmented oversight of livestock production. For example, MAFF oversees livestock breeding, while MHLW oversees slaughter practices, leading to unclear responsibilities and gaps in the process. The group urged for greater cross-ministerial collaboration to ensure a cohesive approach to addressing these issues.

Councillor Kushida called for the government to prioritize animal welfare as a key national issue. He strongly advocated for the inclusion of animal welfare policies in the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ policy address, emphasizing that this would signal Japan’s commitment to animal welfare on the global stage.

The group acknowledged that in addition to subsidies, a comprehensive review of the Animal Welfare Act is necessary to meaningfully reduce the suffering of farm animals. They stressed the need for society to question whether humans have the right to deny animals their inherent rights and to instead recognize the rights that animals inherently possess.

This petition and the submission of signatures mark an important first step in addressing the suffering of farm animals in Japan.

The Animal Rights Center extends its deepest gratitude to everyone who supported this cause by signing the petition. Your voices have helped bring attention to this crucial issue.