Document type: news item from the Meat Institute
Author: Meat Institute
Preview: Since 1991, the Meat Institute has encouraged its members to subscribe to voluntary animal welfare guidelines and embrace auditing programs, and they have done so. The meat industry was the first sector in animal agriculture to develop such guidelines and begin a self-audit program. To help promote good animal welfare practices, the Meat Institute houses the widely-utilized Meat Industry Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit. The Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee updated the Meat Industry Animal Welfare Audit & Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and published the latest versions in 2026.
The Meat Industry Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines: The guidelines provide industry stakeholders with good practices on transport, handling, and stunning. Download the guidelines
The Meat Industry Animal Welfare Audit: The audit provides a tool to objectively assess animal welfare through transport, holding, and slaughter. Download the audit tool
