Tesco China’s sale of

live turtles must stop!

What is the current state of play?

Tesco’s own ethical policy statements include claims of
concern for animal welfare, and a commitment to achieving
sustainability throughout its supply chains. When challenged
at Tesco’s shareholders AGM in 2008, Sir Terence Leahy
claimed that any future sale of live turtles would be based on
“sound science”.
Evidence from CWI investigations in Tesco China stores
during 2010 has revealed that:
 Live turtles are displayed adjacent to tanks of ice. The
cooling of the turtles’ environment in this way is likely to be
detrimental to their welfare.
 Contrary to Tesco’s stated policy, Chinese soft shelled
turtles are not the only species being offered for sale in
Chinese stores.
 Contrary to Tesco’s stated policy, store staff indicated that
different methods of slaughter could be used depending on
the customer’s requirements.
CWI has also accumulated evidence to show that the farming
of turtles in China is not sustainable and is damaging to wild
populations. The sale of live turtles to the public also presents
a significant public health risk.
Key facts:
 Tesco PLC is the UK’s largest retailer
 Contrary to Tesco’s stated policy,
Chinese soft shelled turtles are not the
only species being offered for sale in
Chinese stores
 Tesco stocks and sells live turtles
in its Chinese stores. Turtles are
purchased live by the customer for
slaughter at home, or slaughtered
in-store
 Tesco claims it only stocks farmed
specimens of the Chinese softshell
turtle Pelodiscus sinensis for sale in
its Chinese stores
 Tesco claims it operates a
standardized in-store slaughter policy
involving decapitation followed by
immediate crushing of the skull
What is CWI doing?
CWI, with the support of international scientific
and veterinary experts and authorities, has long
condemned the practice of selling live turtles on
the grounds that it is detrimental to the welfare and
conservation of the turtle species concerned. CWI
believes that the sale of live turtles contravenes
Tesco’s own ethical standards, and that contrary to
assurances made by Chief Executive Sir Terry Leahy
at Tesco’s Shareholders’ AGM in 2008, the
procurement and marketing of turtles by Tesco in
China is not supported by “sound science”.

CWI argues that the continued sale of more than

one species of live turtle of varied reported origin in
Tesco’s Chinese stores, the methods of display of
live turtles in-store, and the indicated variability in
in-store slaughter methodology, is damaging to the
welfare and conservation status of freshwater
turtles, and therefore contravenes Tesco’s own
ethical standards.

CWI believes Tesco China’s behavior is unhelpful

to the ongoing process of development of animal
protection and welfare legislation in China, and
represents British business in a poor light.

CWI continues to lobby Tesco and tries to increase

public awareness of this issue.

If you would like more information please contact us:

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