Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare Trade Policy and Imports

Trade agreements can undermine domestic animal welfare standards by importing products from systems that would be illegal in the UK.

Key Facts

UK banned battery cages in 2012 but still imports products from battery-farmed hens legally
Chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef debates highlight welfare standard divergences
Post-Brexit trade deals have raised concerns about welfare equivalence clauses
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill attempted to address some import welfare concerns
Consumer labelling can help maintain markets for higher-welfare domestic production

Welfare Considerations

Trade policy is a critical lever for animal welfare standards. Allowing imports produced to lower welfare standards undermines domestic high-welfare producers and makes welfare improvements less economically viable. Welfare equivalence standards in trade agreements are a key advocacy target.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for welfare equivalence standards in UK and EU trade agreements
Advocate for country of origin and production system labelling on animal products
Choose domestically produced animal products with high-welfare certification