Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare and Trade Policy

International trade agreements have significant implications for farm animal welfare standards globally, with the potential to either raise or lower standards through market forces.

Key Facts

Trade agreements can undermine domestic welfare standards by allowing imports to lower standards
The UK's post-Brexit trade policy creates tension between welfare standards and market access
Equivalence requirements in trade agreements can drive welfare standard convergence upward or downward
Consumer labelling of import welfare standards could maintain market pressure for good practices
The EU's Farm to Fork strategy aims to include welfare in trade agreement conditionality

Welfare Considerations

Trade policy is one of the most powerful levers available for global farm animal welfare improvement or deterioration. Ensuring trade agreements do not become a mechanism for undermining domestic welfare standards while promoting uplift in trading partner countries is a critical welfare policy objective.

What You Can Do

Engage with parliamentary consultations about animal welfare standards in trade agreements
Support organisations monitoring the welfare implications of trade policy
Advocate for welfare equivalence requirements in all international trade agreements