Overview
ISO 4465:2022 - Textiles - Animal welfare in the supply chain - General requirements for the production, preparation and traceability of Angora rabbit fibre, including ethical claims and supporting information - sets out requirements for the humane management of farmed Angora rabbits and for the responsible production and supply of Angora fibre. The standard addresses animal welfare principles across the production cycle, covering housing, feeding, health, fibre collection (combing/shearing), transport, identification and traceability, and the information needed to support ethical claims.
Key facts from the standard:
- Applies to management and control of critical activities in Angora rabbit farming (accommodation, reproduction, feed and nutrients, health, fibre collection, ethical claims and supporting information).
- Reflects internationally recognised animal welfare principles (OIE/Terrestrial Animal Health Code) and aligns with EU Directive 98/58/EC.
- Notes biological characteristics of Angora rabbits (e.g., fibre yield ~1–1.5 kg/year, productive cycle ~3–4 years, hair growth phases anagen/catagen/telogen) relevant to fibre collection scheduling.
Key Topics and Requirements
The standard specifies practical requirements and topics producers and supply-chain actors must manage:
- Animal housing and husbandry: structural characteristics, housing systems, density, environmental controls (temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting), waste management, cleaning and disinfection, and control of pests/unwanted animals.
- Diet and water management: dietary needs, feed quality and storage, forage and treats, and drinking-water provision.
- Breeding and reproduction: artificial insemination, nest quality, fostering, lactation control, weaning, and humane killing procedures where applicable.
- Health management and biosafety: veterinary oversight, parasite control, vaccination programmes, medicines management, and biosecurity measures for people and vehicles.
- Fibre production: areas dedicated to hair collection, rabbit handling during shearing/combing, shearing cycles and animal welfare considerations.
- Traceability and records: animal identification, enclosure identification, record-keeping and supply-chain traceability to support product claims.
- Ethical claims and supporting information: requirements for labelling programmes and the documentation needed to substantiate welfare-related claims (in line with ISO/TS 17033:2019).
Practical Applications - Who Uses ISO 4465
ISO 4465 is intended for stakeholders across the Angora fibre supply chain:
- Angora rabbit farmers and farm managers seeking to implement welfare-based production systems.
- Textile manufacturers, brands and private-label retailers requiring verified animal-welfare sourcing.
- Certification bodies, auditors and third-party verifiers assessing compliance and ethical claims.
- Supply-chain managers and procurement teams integrating traceability and due-diligence requirements.
- Regulators and policy developers aligning national requirements with international best practices.
Related Standards
- ISO/TS 17033:2019 - Ethical claims and supporting information - principles and requirements (referenced for ethical labelling).
- ISO 26000 - Guidance on social responsibility (context for broader social and ethical considerations).
ISO 4465 helps organizations demonstrate responsible sourcing of Angora rabbit fibre, improve animal welfare practices, strengthen traceability, and substantiate ethical claims for consumers and markets. Keywords: ISO 4465, Angora rabbit fibre, animal welfare, traceability, ethical claims, textile supply chain.