Urgent call to address animal welfare in UK trade deals

The UK risks undermining its animal welfare laws and disadvantaging British farmers if trade deals allow imports from countries with lower standards, a new report has warned.

As the UK government prepares to announce a new trade strategy, a report released jointly by Animal Policy International, Compassion in World Farming, and the RSPCA reveals 95% of the UK’s 88 current or potential trading partners have lower farmed animal welfare standards.

The report warns this could worsen unless urgent legislative action is taken.

See also: Chancellor rejects ‘Buy British’ plan amid trade tensions

The report, Closing the Welfare Gap: Why the UK Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports, highlights many imported animal products are produced using methods outlawed in the UK, including battery cages and sow stalls.

“The UK now faces critical choices for how best to pursue a successful trade agenda with its upcoming trade strategy,” said Mandy Carter, co-executive director at Animal Policy International.

“This really is a pivotal moment, and we must act now to avoid this situation getting much worse.”

Key findings show that more than half of UK pork is imported from countries where sow stalls are still legal, despite being banned in the UK since the 1990s.

While foie gras production and fur farming are illegal in the UK, these products are still imported.

New trade deals with countries such as the US, Mexico, and India could further increase the volume of substandard imports.

The report warns the US deal is especially concerning, with rumours chicken, pork, and beef are included in ongoing negotiations.

Report launch 

Speaking at the launch of the report in Westminster on Tuesday (29 April), Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “This report puts animal welfare into its proper context. It is not fair to expect our farmers to abide by UK standards and then compete with other products on shelves that don’t.

“If animal welfare matters here, then it should matter everywhere. There can’t be a back door deal when it comes to animal welfare.”

Morgan Brobyn from the British Egg Council agreed that British farmers were custodians of the land, environment and animal welfare.

“We can’t have products that are banned in the UK coming in through other countries onto supermarket shelves.

“MPs need to follow this report through and hold the government to account. If it’s illegal here to produce, it should be illegal to import.”

Public support

James West, chief public affairs manager at Compassion in World Farming, said an overwhelming 84% of British people support restricting or banning low-welfare imports that do not meet UK standards.

“Despite this strong public sentiment, current regulations, except for slaughter, do not require UK farm animal welfare standards to be met for a product to be imported or sold in the UK.”

The report urges the government to legislate so that all imported animal products must meet UK welfare laws, ensuring fairness for farmers and upholding public expectations.