producers recognize that consumers, restaurants, retailers and policy makers want to know that they can count on the veal industry to provide humane care and sustainable practices,” said AVA President, Chip Lines-Burgess. “By adopting and embracing these principles, we can help our consumers and customers better understand our commitment to producing safe, nutritious food, protecting the environment, caring for our animals, providing a safe, rewarding work environment and contributing to our communities. These are the values the veal industry believes in.”
The statement of ethical principles and code of conduct were adopted unanimously by veal industry delegates attending the 2010 AVA annual meeting in San Antonio on January 29. The ethical principles and code of conduct were initiated as a project of the veal checkoff funded Joint VIM/VQA Committee and were identified by a cross-section of veal industry participants during a working session in July 2009. The draft language was distributed to the veal industry with a survey for feedback and to determine whether the proposed ethical principles fairly represent the guiding values of today’s veal. The final document was submitted to the AVA delegates in an effort to bring full industry alignment to the principles that guide today’s veal industry.
“The veal industry is well on its way to meeting a voluntary effort to transition all veal farms to group housing by 2017, “ said Lines-Burgess. “The adoption of the ethical principles and code of conduct reflects our continued commitment to provide leadership in the areas most important to our customers and consumers. We will continue to work with farmers and others in the industry to ensure they are incorporated into all aspects of veal calf well-being and farm management practices.”
In May 2007, the AVA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt a resolution calling for all U.S. veal farms to transition to group housing systems by December 31, 2017. The Board also encouraged more research to aid farmers in the transition. Today, the AVA estimates that approximately one-third of veal calves are raised in group housing.