The Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST) has launched the first animal welfare certification scheme in Taiwan with higher standards than government guidelines.

EAST Certified provides certainty to Taiwanese consumers seeking kinder products and incentivises farmers to improve the way they treat animals in their care. Farms are required to meet strict animal welfare criteria to obtain certification and are subject to annual audits to ensure they continue to meet certification criteria. 

EAST Certified is an expansion of the Cage Free Alliance laying hen welfare certification scheme established by EAST in 2017. The Cage Free Alliance will eventually transition to EAST Certified brand.

EAST Certified already has standards for laying hens and dairy cattle in Taiwan, and will continue to develop standards for other species. The standards are based on the latest scientific research and international schemes. The standards have been adapted to Taiwanese farming conditions through consultation with academics, farmers, and real-life observations of Taiwanese farms.

Consumers can easily recognize products that have received EAST Certified certification by looking for the distinctive certification mark.

“Each year, Taiwan raises more than 370 million poultry birds, 7.9 million pigs and 600,000 dairy cattle. The vast majority of these animals are raised on intensive farms where they are unable to engage in natural behaviors, subject to painful mutilations without anaesthetic and endure extreme confinement” explained Wu Hung, Chief Executive of EAST. 

“EAST Certified makes it easier for conscious consumers to match their values with their purchasing decisions,” he added.

In June, a milk product by JJ Farm in eastern Taiwan became the first product to earn certification under the new scheme. The product was launched in partnership with Carrefour and is stocked at all Carrefour stores across Taiwan.

Carrefour received first place in the 2021 PwC Sustainable Impact Awards in recognition of the initiative’s significance to improving the welfare of dairy cattle in Taiwan.

In addition to certification, EAST Certified also features an expert advisory group to help farmers address animal welfare issues and improve the state of animal welfare across the industry. The advisory group is comprised of academics from National Chung Hsing University and National Taiwan University.

Consumers can visit the EAST Certified website in Chinese or English to learn more about the certification.

Media contact
Yu-Min Chen, Deputy Chief Executive
Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)
Mobile: +886 (9) 1015 0908
Phone: +886 (2) 2236 9735