Image: Levar Foundation / FIS

AEON Malaysia launches New Comprehensive Fish Health & Welfare Policy

Malaysia-based retail chain AEON Co. published a comprehensive new fish health and welfare policy that protects the "Five Freedoms" of animals in the company's supply chain, from egg-laying hens to cows, chickens and fish.

Photo: Aeon

“We aspire to require all suppliers of farmed and wild-caught fish and seafood products to be certified by Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or equivalent and to follow World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.” the Company noted in its new fish policy. “Suppliers of farmed fish and seafood must perform daily monitoring of water temperature, flow, oxygen, pH, ammonia, carbon dioxide and disease, prevent and treat disease outbreaks, and keep stocking densities at levels that do not harm animal welfare.”

The Company, is a leading General Merchandise Stores (GMS) and Supermarket chain in Malaysia, with 28 AEON Malls, 34 AEON Stores, 9 MaxValu Prime, 65 AEON Wellness and 42 DAISO and 4 Komai-so across the country. 

The Company believes that animal welfare is deeply related to the relationship human beings have with animals and agrees that it is every retailer’s duty to ensure all animals are treated humanely, responsibly, and with respect.

AEON is working closely with its suppliers to ensure the new standards and guidelines are met within the next 12 – 18 months. AEON noted that the new animal health and welfare policy is an essential step towards protecting farm animals in its supply chain, thus meeting the growing expectations of customers who demand higher standards of animal welfare.

"We applaud AEON Malaysia for this new holistic set of standards that will further improve the welfare of fish, chickens, cows and other animals in the company's supply chain," said Vilosha Sivaraman, Sustainability Program Manager at Lever Foundation, which worked closely with AEON on drafting the policy. "Many food companies in Malaysia are upgrading their animal welfare policies in response to increased consumer interest in more humane, sustainable and safe products, and with its new policy, AEON has established itself as a leader in this area."

Photo: Aeon

A study conducted by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) found that the humane treatment of animals is a critical component of the country's growing green foods movement, with 91% of consumers believing green foods can and must prevent unnecessary animal suffering. Another study from the international academic journal Animal Welfare found that Malaysian consumers strongly support greater farm animal welfare protection.

Source: Aeon 

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