API Report Launch Event in UK Parliament on the Importance of Animal Welfare in Trade
- rainer802
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 3
On 29 April, Members of Parliament, government officials, industry and NGO representatives met at a Parliamentary reception in Westminster for the launch of our new report, Closing the Welfare Gap: Why the UK Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports, revealing significant animal welfare disparities in UK international trade.
The event, demonstrating robust cross-party support with over 50 MPs in attendance and speakers from three major parties, was a collaboration from Animal Policy International, Compassion in World Farming, and the RSPCA.
Hosted by Labour MP Ruth Jones, the event highlighted a troubling reality: 95% of the UK's trading partners maintain animal welfare standards significantly lower than those required domestically. The implications are profound, with many imported animal products being produced using methods that would be illegal within British borders. In her speech, Ruth emphasised the necessity of extending welfare standards to all products in order to protect farmed animals, stating, "It's all about consistency and compassion. How can we claim to care about animal welfare in this country when we allow imports that would be illegal to produce here?"
Other speakers from across the political spectrum underscored the report's significance, including Conservative MP Neil Hudson, Liberal Democrat MPs Alistair Carmichael and Sarah Dyke, Morgan Brobyn from the British Egg Industry Council, and Mandy Carter from Animal Policy International.
Speaking at the event, our Co-Executive Director Mandy Carter stressed that applying animal welfare standards also to imports is important for several reasons "A law to ban cruel imports is not just legally possible - it's the right thing to do. For the animals who cannot speak for themselves. For our farmers who deserve a level playing field. For the public and all of us who have demanded better."
In his speech Neil Hudson, Conservative MP emphasised that “If you want to trade with us and deal with us, you need to uphold our standards… I urge the current Government to stand firm on these red lines."
Sarah Dyke Liberal Democrats MP talked about the effects on farmers, stating, “We’re at risk of further undermining British farmers by allowing in more products that wouldn’t be legal to produce in the UK. We’re clear that we cannot allow this to happen.”
Alistair Carmichael Liberal Democrats MP said, “There can be no backdoor deal when it comes to animal welfare… there are a great deal of opportunities to work together and we can ultimately get an outcome for for our farmers and people that is kind to animals”
Morgan Brobyn from the British Egg Industry Council emphasised the issue for industry and for consumers, saying, “Products that are illegal to produce in our country come through the back door… Powdered and liquid eggs find their way into food products as ingredients with customers none the wiser.”
The report comes at a critical moment, particularly with potential trade deals with the United States rumored to include chicken, pork, and beef imports. Morgan Brobyn from the British Egg Industry Council highlighted the insidious nature of the problem, pointing out that products illegal to produce domestically often enter the market through ingredients like powdered and liquid eggs.
With the UK government currently navigating complex international trade negotiations, this report provides a crucial blueprint for maintaining animal welfare standards, offering a legislative solution that could ban cruel imports.
Read the full report.
