New UK report warns urgent action needed on animal welfare in trade to avert looming threat
- rainer802
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 29
New report from Animal Policy International urges action on imports that undermine British people’s’ support for higher animal welfare standards
As the Government prepares to unveil its new trade strategy amidst global trade turmoil, a new report released by Animal Policy International in collaboration with Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA has found that of the UK’s 88 trading partners that can currently, or may soon, export animal products to the UK without tariffs, 84 (95%) have lower farmed animal welfare standards than the UK. The report warns that many animal products imported into the UK are produced using methods that are illegal locally, and there is an urgent need to address this issue to avoid it worsening with new trade deals that could undermine both British values and higher welfare UK farmers.
With the UK Government currently pursuing a trade deal with the US which is rumoured to include chicken, pork and beef, the release of this report is especially timely.
The report, “Closing the Welfare Gap: Why the UK Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports”, reveals for the first time the current and future landscape of the UK's animal product imports. It identifies critical gaps in animal welfare standards between the UK and those that export to it and proposes a legislative solution to require animal products imported into the UK to meet domestic animal welfare standards.
Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star, Debora Meaden who penned the foreword for the report, said: “Closing this "welfare gap" must be a priority. It’s about integrity. We don't just want suffering outsourced overseas - we want an end to farmed animal cruelty entirely.”
Key insights from the report show:
Of the UK’s 88 trading partners that can currently, or may soon, export animal products to the UK without tariffs, 84 (95%) have lower animal welfare standards than the UK. New trade agreements with countries such as the US and India may increase imports that don't meet UK welfare standards, undermining decades of progress.
Although barren battery cages for egg-laying hens were banned in the UK in 2012, new trade deals could allow these products from countries like India and Mexico.
The UK banned the production of foie gras and fur farming, yet still permits the importation of these products.
Over 50% of UK pork is imported from countries that still allow sow stalls, banned in the UK since the 1990s.
The UK is effectively outsourcing animal cruelty, with already high numbers of farmed animals suffering overseas for the UK market. This is likely to increase.
Tashi Thomas, Head of UK Policy at Animal Policy International, said: “The UK now faces critical choices for how best to pursue a successful trade agenda with its upcoming trade strategy. This really is a pivotal moment and we must act now to avoid this situation getting much worse. Allowing imports with lower welfare standards creates a race to the bottom that sells out British values and farmers. Just as we regulate imports to safeguard our slaughter laws, we should also do so for production methods, protecting the values of British people and upholding our reputation. It’s time to close the welfare gap.”
Read the full report.
Read the media release.
