Dr Neil Hudson, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest and Shadow DEFRA Minister, has called for urgent action to protect British farmers and uphold the UK’s world-leading animal welfare standards. Speaking at the Westminster launch of the new report, Closing the Welfare Gap: Why the UK Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports, Dr Hudson joined leading animal welfare organisations - Animal Policy International, Compassion in World Farming and the RSPCA – to highlight the risks posed by lower-welfare imports.
The report warns that many animal products imported into the UK are produced using methods that are illegal here and stresses the urgent need to address this issue. With the UK Government currently pursuing an ‘economic agreement’ with the US, which is rumoured to include increased access for US-produced chicken, pork and beef to the UK market, the release of this report is especially timely.
The UK, celebrated for its dedication to animal welfare, has emerged as a global frontrunner in establishing some rigorous standards for farmed animal welfare.
Dr Hudson, the first veterinary surgeon in the House of Commons since 1884, a long-standing advocate for animal welfare and British agriculture, has consistently pressed for trade deals that protect UK standards. He played a key role on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, ensuring post-Brexit trade agreements did not compromise animal welfare.
Following the event, Dr Neil Hudson said:
“This report is a stark warning of the lower animal welfare standards that exist overseas. Without urgent legislative action, British farmers who uphold higher welfare practices will be undercut by cheaper, sub-standard imports.”
“We must ensure that every animal product sold in the UK meets the rigorous welfare standards that British consumers expect, and British farmers deliver.
“We must maintain our clear red lines banning the imports of chlorine-washed poultry, hormone-treated beef and dairy, and ractopamine-fed pork.
“Protecting our brilliant farmers and our animals is a moral imperative, and I call on the Government to ensure that any trade negotiations meet our animal welfare standards.”
Mandy Carter, Co-Executive Director 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.
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.
“It is imperative that the Government ensures all animal products sold in the UK, whether produced domestically or imported, meet British animal welfare standards.”
David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said:
“As discussions on any possible future trade deal between the UK and US to avoid tariffs come under the public spotlight, we remain steadfast that the striking of any deal with the US must not make concessions that allow imported animal products produced to very low welfare standards onto our supermarket shelves.
“As well as introducing low welfare products into the UK, it would prevent a better trade deal with the EU and would undermine our own higher domestic standards - hitting the livelihoods of UK farmers hard; all while flying in the face of what many consumers want.”
For more information on Dr Hudson’s work to support animal health and welfare, please see: https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/campaigns/supporting-animal-health-and-welfare
