Abstract

Canada is often assumed to have legal protections for farmed animals and to be broadly aligned with peer countries in its treatment of them. However, cross-jurisdictional comparison tells us a different story. Drawing on Towards a National Framework for Farmed Animal Protection, a report recently published by Animal Justice, Humane World for Animals, Mercy for Animals, and the Montreal SPCA, this essay reveals not only differences in welfare standards across jurisdictions, but also fundamentally different approaches to governing farmed animals altogether. Canada’s system is structurally distinctive, particularly in its reliance on industry-led standards, fragmented oversight, and uneven transparency in enforcement. By situating Canada alongside jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark, the European Union, Germany, and Switzerland, the essay shows that alternative governance models already exist. These differences shape what is seen as normal, achievable, and politically realistic in farmed animal law and policy reform.

 

Keywords: animal welfare, law, policy, farmed animals

How to Cite:

Zavitz, T., (2026) “[Provocation] What We See When We Look Beyond Canada’s Borders: Cross-Jurisdictional Insights into Farmed Animal Governance ”, Animal Studies Journal 15(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.14453/asj.2562