WSPA advocates that methods used at all stages of farm animal husbandry must be developed so as to preclude avoidable suffering.

Farmed animals must be provided with shelter, exercise, food, water and care in a manner appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. WSPA is opposed to any methods of husbandry which do not fulfil these criteria.

WSPA is also opposed to farming practices, such as plucking of down from live ducks and geese and force feeding of ducks and geese for "foie gras", which by their nature cause suffering.

WSPA is in principle opposed to mutilations which are carried out for non-therapeutic reasons, especially those carried out in an attempt to 'adapt' animals to an inappropriate husbandry system; in such cases it is the system which should be modified, not the animal.

WSPA advocates that food animals should be slaughtered as close to the point of production as possible.

Transport by sea for food animals destined for slaughter should be forbidden except where it is necessary to reach the nearest slaughterhouse.

No animal which is ill or unfit should be allowed to travel. In addition, proper selection of stock must take place to remove ill or unfit animals. Selected stock should be prepared to help withstand the rigors of transport, and the vehicle or vessel should be specifically designed for carriage of the particular species involved.

All drivers of livestock vehicles should be trained both in necessary driving techniques and the general care of the animals in their charge. They should have their licences endorsed with the species of animals they have been trained to transport.

All vehicles used to transport animals long distance should have the following facilities:

• Forced/mechanical ventilation
• Continuous monitoring of temperature and humidity in livestock compartments and results displayed in the driver's cabin
• Adequate partitioning of stock by age, sex and species
• Ready access to all animals
• Protection from the elements

Animals must be provided with sufficient food, water and rest before, during and after the journey, according to their biological needs.

Detailed specifications and regulations for livestock vessels/vehicles transporting animals by rail, road and sea, should be laid down, and rigorously enforced by the competent authority.

All air transport of animals should follow IATA regulations.

Not withstanding the above points, it should be our declared aim and public demand to have all long distance transportation of animals for slaughter replaced by carcass only trade.

WSPA advocates that every animal for slaughter must be instantaneously killed, or be rendered instantaneously unconscious and insensible to pain until death supervenes. WSPA opposes the shackling and hoisting of conscious animals.

WSPA believes that the welfare of individual fish must be provided for in fish farming, with particular attention paid to factors such as stocking density, water quality and direction of flow. WSPA opposes the commercial practice of allowing anglers into fish farms to play the fish and then to throw them back. The handling, transport and slaughter of fish must comply with general humane principles.