New plans from the UK Government to safeguard animal welfare standards welcomed by the RSPCA

Commitment to not lowering food standards in trade deals

- 

Ministers recently released the UK’s Trade Strategy, which aims to reset the UK’s approach to international trade following its withdrawal from the European Union - and the animal welfare charity has applauded a specific commitment to not lower food standards, and to use trade measures including import bans to uphold welfare. The RSPCA has long warned against trade strategy opening the UK food market to lower welfare produce - like eggs from battery caged hens, pork from sow stall systems, chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef. Such trades could allow food to be imported which is illegal under UK law, and risk undercutting the British farmers.