DiscoverOur ethical production
Our Fundamental Commitment to Animal Welfare
At Biowest, we place ethical responsibility and animal welfare at the heart of our production practices. Our commitment is twofold: guaranteeing the quality and safety of our serums while maintaining the most rigorous ethical standards throughout our supply chain.
This approach is essential for the confidence of our partners and reflects our deep values.
Adherence to International Standards and Guidelines
We ensure the production of our animal serums in strict compliance with global animal health benchmarks, in particular:
- The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH/OIE): Our production processes align with the animal welfare principles established by the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
- The Five Freedoms: We guarantee animal welfare among our suppliers by applying the international guidelines of the Five Freedoms, which cover the fundamental needs of animals (freedom from hunger and thirst, from stress and fear, from pain, and from disease).
An Active Engagement: The 3Rs Principle and Responsible Sourcing
Our CSR policy actively integrates the three internationally recognized “Rs” that guide research and responsible production:
- Reduction: Minimizing the number of animals.
- Refinement: Improving methods and conditions to alleviate potential pain.
- Replacement: Developing and prioritizing technologies alternative to live animal models.
Furthermore, Biowest guarantees ethical sourcing: we work exclusively with fetal bovine blood collected as a by-product of cows slaughtered for commercial reasons and unrelated to their gestation status.
Transparency and Process Control
To guarantee ethical production of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), we apply strict procedures in the blood collection process:
- Safety and Ethics: The collection of blood from unborn calves is only performed after they have been declared deceased and the absence of vital signs has been rigorously confirmed. This methodology aims to eliminate any risk of pain perception by the fetus.
- European Traceability: Our European FBS benefits from strict guidelines defined by European Union regulations regarding animal treatment. Ear tagging and labeling at the farm allow for complete traceability of the serum down to the individual animal.
Our work is a quest for constant improvement, supported by scientific research and the expertise of organizations like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and associations like the ESPA, whose objectives we share. Our commitment is your guarantee.
