Global Livestock Welfare Standards and Trade

Global animal product trade creates welfare disparities - animals can be raised in low-welfare systems and exported to high-welfare markets, undermining domestic standards.

Key Facts

The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world but imports products from lower-welfare systems
Post-Brexit trade agreements risk importing products (chlorinated chicken, ractopamine-fed pork) from lower-welfare systems
The Trade and Agriculture Commission advises the UK government on welfare equivalence in trade
Australia and Brazil produce beef under systems banned or restricted in the UK (e.g., hormones, certain management practices)
Consumer confusion about country-of-origin labelling makes informed welfare-based purchasing difficult
Mandatory country-of-origin labelling for all meat and dairy is not yet fully implemented in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Global livestock trade presents a structural welfare challenge. High domestic welfare standards become ineffective if lower-welfare imports undercut domestically produced welfare-assured products. Trade partners who do not accept welfare equivalence requirements can access UK markets while reducing economic viability of higher-welfare UK farming. Post-Brexit trade policy is a critical arena for animal welfare - agreements that compromise on welfare equivalence will drive down UK standards through market pressure. Mandatory origin labelling would enable consumer welfare-based choice and is a straightforward transparency measure.

What You Can Do

Support Trade and Agriculture Commission advocacy for welfare equivalence in UK trade agreements
Engage with MPs about maintaining UK welfare standards in post-Brexit trade policy
Choose UK-produced and certified welfare-assured meat and dairy products
Support mandatory country-of-origin labelling campaigns for all meat and dairy
Engage with retailers about their sourcing policies for imported meat and dairy
Follow Sustain and Compassion in World Farming trade policy campaigns