Working animals play an important role in agriculture and the transport of goods and people in developing countries. Working equine animals support an estimated 300 million people globally, often in the most marginalised communities [1]. The contribution of working animals to livelihoods is not well understood and many suffer signi?cant healthand welfare problems. In 2013, the Director General of the OIE commissioned a Discussion Paper on the future role of the OIE with respect to the welfare of working animals. In 2014, an ad hoc expert group reporting to the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (the Code Commission) was convenedto draft an OIE standard on the welfare of working equids. In September 2014 and 2015, the Code Commission reviewed and distributed the Group’s reports for review by Member Countries. In May 2016, a new chapter on the welfare of working equids was adopted by the OIE World Assembly of Delegates for inclusion in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code) [2].
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