Our valuesThe biowest commitments
Ethical production - Animal welfare
The commitment to quality, efficiency and transparency has made Biowest a European leader for over 30 years. Combined with a fully integrated supply chain and a network of confident distributors around the world, Biowest has gained confidence in the field of life sciences.
OUR COMMITMENTS
Fully aware of our responsibilities, we committed to providing quality products while actively contributing to a sustainable and ethical future. To achieve this, we have structured our activities around the three pillars of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
- Environment
- Economic
- Social
Find more about our commitments in the announcement below.
Biowest commitment letter
The production process of animal sera complies with Animal Welfare principles established by OIE – The World Organization for Animal Health: Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2012, Volume I, section 7
Biowest is aware of the ethical responsibility concerning the use of animals and their welfare.
We ensure valuable animal welfare by applying the International Five Freedoms Guidelines of basic animal needs freeing them from :
- Hunger
- Thirst
- Fear
- Pain
- Faim.
- Disease
We aim to comply with the International Three “R”s:
- Reduction in numbers of animals
- Refinement of experimental methods
- Replacement of animals with alternative technologies avoiding experiments on live animals.
Biowest only works with fetal bovine blood collected as a by-product from cows slaughtered for reasons unrelated to their pregnant condition.
To ensure the ethical production of Fetal Bovine Serum :
We implement procedures in the bleeding process that eliminate the risk of the fetus feeling any pain.
Blood from unborn calves is collected only after they are certified dead, and the absence of vital signs is confirmed.
European FBS benefits from Welfare Guidelines – for animal treatment on farms, during transportation, and in slaughterhouses – laid out by EU regulations.
European FBS certifies BSE testing and complies with EU standards regarding the use of GMOs and hormones.
Ear tagging and farm labelling enable serum traceability back to the individual animal assuring a reliable product with an “ID” or “Passport”.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) experts have completed a study which examined the animal welfare issues relating to the slaughter of pregnant farm animals in the European Union. This study gives a scientific opinion which increases the knowledge and understanding of these issues and ultimately, contributes to the improvement of animal welfare in Europe.
The purpose of European Serum Products Association (ESPA) is to promote the safe use of serum, connect companies of the serum processing industry in the EU and Non-EU countries, and to represent their interests.
At Biowest, we place social responsibility at the heart of our strategy. Every action we take aims to combine economic performance, environmental respect, ethical practices, and social progress. This vision drives our development and shapes our entire supply chain.
As part of this commitment, we have been assessed by Ecovadis, the leading platform for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
In 2025, Biowest was awarded the Bronze Medal, with a score that places us among the top 35% of the most performing companies in our sector. This recognition highlights the rigor and consistency of our sustainable development efforts.
It marks another step in a process of continuous improvement that we are pursuing with dedication.
Our ambition remains unchanged: to strengthen our actions and create lasting positive impact, in line with the challenges of our time.
