#82: Animal Welfare & International Trade Law With Katie Sykes

Animal Justice

00:00 / 01:31:13

In Episode 82 of the Paw & Order podcast, Camille Labchuk interviews Thompson Rivers University Associate Professor of Law Katie Sykes about her new book, Animal Welfare and International Trade Law: The Impact of the WTO Seal Case. Katie discusses the history of the World Trade Organization and its trade agreements in relation to animal welfare, and gives an in-depth analysis of the EU ban on the sale of seal products, and why this ban was an important shift demonstrating that animal welfare issues have their place in trade exemptions that address public morals and changing, progressive attitudes.

In the news, Camille Labchuk and co-host Peter Sankoff discuss the latest update on the federal ag gag bill, including advocacy groups being blocked from testifying at committee, and a ground-breaking amendment holding everyone—including farmers—accountable for on-farm disease risks, the one-year anniversary of activist Regan Russell’s tragic death, a catch-and-release fishing debate in the Globe and Mail, including letters to the editor, and a great piece in the New York Times about the ethical issue of displaying animals in zoos for entertainment.

The Hero of the episode is the Edmonton Elks, for using the plural word “elks” instead of “elk”—which we love, because “elks” is a descriptor that helps animals be recognized as individuals. And the Zero is Toronto’s Ryding-Regency Meat Packers slaughterhouse, that was recently charged for selling contaminated meat and lying to CFIA investigators.

Links for Katie Sykes:

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