Animal Law Focus making progress with its farm animal project in Chile (and the Global South).
In last week’s blog, we talked about Animal Law Focus’s partnership with the Aquatic Animal Alliance, and affirmed our commitment to fighting for animals in Aquaculture. Now it's time for the farm animals on land. Chile is the focus of our first in-depth investigation, through which we will develop targeted actions and strategies to close regulatory gaps, improve enforcement, and correct non-compliant practices. In this post we’ll explore why an investigation into the farming of land animals in Chile is warranted and has the potential to pave the way towards impactful reform, especially with the help of our new partner Animal Libre!
The Recent Past - The Rapid Expansion of Animal Agriculture in Chile
Meat production has increased dramatically across Chile in the past twenty years, with the growth of chicken and pig farming responsible for the majority of this trend. Since 2004, the number of chickens and pigs being raised and slaughtered for meat in Chile has increased dramatically, by more than 50%. Moreover, between 2004 and 2020, pork exports from Chile had more than tripled (before a decline in line with the Covid-19 pandemic), and the country currently ranks as the fifth largest pork exporter in the world. In our opinion, and based on comparative analyses of other legislation on the same subject, we do not believe that regulation - nor the enforcement of this regulation - has kept pace with this rapid expansion. Our early findings suggest both that non-compliance is commonplace, and that the relevant authorities often lack the resources to respond appropriately even when it is discovered. The animal protection institute Voiceless agrees, ranking Chile’s farmed animal protection legislation as ‘very poor’.
New Developments - Vietnam and the EU
2025 has already seen sizable developments regarding the global status of Chile’s animal farming industry. According to ChileCarne, Chile is very close to accessing Vietnam as a market for its pig and chicken meat industries. With its large 100 million population and fast growing economy, Vietnam is seen by the pig and chicken industries in Chile as an opportunity to increase their global presence and profitability. Intervention has never been more crucial as the fate of millions of pigs and chickens hang in the balance.
The second development we’ve been keeping up with is the new trade agreement between Chile and the EU that took effect on 1st February 2025, and has major implications for farmed land animals in the country. The agreement aims to expand trade between the two partners, with more than 99% of Chilean exports now benefiting from tariff reductions, including lower tariffs on beef, sheep, chicken, pork and dairy exports to the continent. From the perspective of Animal Law Focus, of particular interest are the inclusion of a number of measures to promote sustainable food systems. Article 7.6 concerns animal welfare, and includes a recognition that animals are sentient beings, a commitment to protecting their welfare, and the establishment of a Technical Working Group to ensure the adherence of both parties.
What we’re going to do about it
The recent past and present of the farming of land animals in Chile makes our project all the more timely. Unfortunately for hundreds of millions of individuals, meat production is on an upward trajectory, and with each year that passes more lives are lost. Rising exports, whilst a grave concern for millions of pigs and chickens, could lead to increased accountability in animal farming, as we are already beginning to see with the EU’s focus on sustainable food systems.
An investigation into the regulatory landscape surrounding animal agriculture in Chile is urgently needed. We will carry out in-depth research on the existing legislation governing infractional behaviour from the companies in the industry, and develop targeted actions and strategies to close regulatory gaps, improve enforcement, and correct non-compliant practices.
With all this in mind, and maintaining our firm belief that collaborative work is essential to achieve our goals in the defence of animals, we are delighted to collaborate with different organisations to further expand the impact of our work. One of our partners for support in specific activities during the course of the project in Chile will be Animal Libre. Through educational activism, investigation, and rescue, Animal Libre is working to build a world without cruelty towards animals, a vision we wholeheartedly share. Animal Libre will support our upcoming project into animal farming in Chile through activism and investigations, areas in which they have achieved remarkable success already.
On the other hand, and as it is in our interest to extend our strategy to other Latin American countries, we have also signed a collaboration agreement with Arba Peru for the first stages of research on the reality of farm animals in that country. Through its research, legislative, campaigning and awareness-raising work, the organisation has published various analyses, such as that of the ‘sangrecita’ industry in Peru, revealing little-known aspects of its production; developed programs to promote veganism; launched campaigns to reduce the use of battery cages for chickens; and offered various legal advice to promote laws and policies that protect animals. Its objective is to create a more ethical society that is more respectful of all living beings, which is also in line with the mission of Animal Law Focus.
Our aim is to take our strategy and project to other countries in the Global South. Some of the countries we are focusing on are: Peru, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, India, the Philippines and Pakistan.
We are very interested in creating alliances and collaborations with other organisations in these countries to evaluate working together for farm animals.If you agree that farmed animals in Chile and the Global South deserve better, and you would like to help us in our mission, follow us on our social media channels, subscribe to our newsletter or consider making a donation.
Written by Dylan Holmes Cowan.