IN THE COMMONS CHAMBER: Shadow DEFRA Minister and Epping Forest MP, Dr Neil Hudson, pressed the Government during DEFRA Oral Questions to give unequivocal assurances that the UK’s world‑leading farming and animal welfare standards will not be weakened as part of its ongoing negotiations with the European Union on a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.
Dr Hudson challenged Ministers to rule out any dilution of long‑standing bans on hormone‑treated beef, ractopamine‑treated pork, and bovine somatotrophin in dairy production, all prohibited in the UK and EU due to serious animal welfare and public health concerns.
Despite these bans, the Government’s own guidance for businesses on the proposed UK–EU SPS Agreement includes legislation “in scope” relating to the use of hormones in livestock, including bovine somatotrophin. This inconsistency has raised alarm among farming groups, veterinary professionals and animal welfare organisations, who fear it may suggest a willingness by the Labour Government to trade away British standards in pursuit of international deals.
In her response to Dr Hudson, the Minister affirmed the Government's commitment to animal welfare standards on the hormone-treated beef ban, but did not provide the critical assurances that the bans on bovine somatotrophin and ractopamine‑treated pork will be upheld in trade deals moving forward.
In the Chamber, Shadow DEFRA Minister and veterinarian Dr Hudson said:
“Stakeholders have expressed alarm as to why the Government’s guidance for businesses on the UK–EU SPS Agreement, published last week, has legislation in scope on the use of hormones in livestock, including bovine somatotrophin.
“The use of growth‑promoting hormones in livestock and the use of bovine somatotrophin are rightly banned in the UK and EU, because of serious animal welfare issues and public health concerns. Bovine Somatotrophin is linked with a 25% increase in mastitis in cows.
For the sake of animal welfare, can the Minister give a clear assurance that the UK will maintain our bans on hormone‑treated beef, ractopamine‑treated pork and Bovine Somatropin-dairy, and that none of these standards will be weakened or traded away in these EU SPS negotiations, or in trade deals with other countries?
“And can she confirm if the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024, which ended the inhumane export of live animals for slaughter or fattening, will be fully retained in this EU reset?”
Speaking afterwards, Dr Hudson commented:
“British farmers, vets and consumers expect, and deserve, absolute clarity that our high food and farming standards are not up for negotiation. These protections exist for good reason: they safeguard animal welfare, public health and the integrity of our food system.
“The Government must remove any ambiguity from its SPS guidance and give a cast‑iron commitment that the bans on hormone‑treated beef, ractopamine‑treated pork and bovine somatotrophin will remain firmly in place. It is extremely concerning and deeply disappointing that the Minister failed to provide clear assurances that all these vital standards, particularly on bovine somatotrophin and ractopamine‑treated pork, will be upheld in international trade deals.”
“I will continue to hold the Government to account to ensure that Britain’s high standards remain in place.”
