On December 3rd 2019, a member from the House of Representatives in Gunma prefecture, Keinin Horikoshi, asked Minister Shinjiro Koizumi of the Ministry of Environment questions about the needs of animal welfare for livestock animals. The OIE Standards, which the Ministry of Environment at the Committee on Environment in May 2019 promised to follow, were supposed to be known to the local officials through their study group sessions. How does Minister Koizumi understand animal welfare issues on livestock animals? Mr. Horikoshi emphasized the importance of leadership by the Ministry of Environment on this issue: There was some progress in this issue in certain aspects. I believe the leadership by the…