With more than 661.7 million pigs slaughtered each year, China is the world's largest pork producer, accounting for almost half of total global output. Exports, however, account for only 6.57 million tons, less than 1 percent, according to the 2011 annual report on China's pig industry, released by the National Swine Industry Technology Center, co-founded by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance.

The story is similar in the beef and chicken industries.

"Part of the reason for the low level of exports is the lack of animal welfare and sanitary standards (in China), so export to major markets such as the European Union is impossible," Jia said. "Writing animal welfare into Chinese legislation would certainly have an impact in the international market where increasing demand animal welfare products sets a green trade barrier."

Qu Bin, quality director for Husi Food, which has been the sole supplier for McDonald's in China for more than two decades, said: "Animal welfare is a brand in the international market.

"Doing business with other countries, we have to play by their rules," Qu said. "With the regulation, we hope more Chinese companies will follow quality practices, providing us more choices in upstream companies."

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