Animal Policy International

Ministers should secure an explicit animal welfare carve-out in trade negotiations. Imports must meet the same welfare standards required of UK producers. Practices deemed unacceptable on British farms should not be permitted through imports

NZ Farmers calling for same animal welfare standards on local and imported pork rnz.co.nz/news/country/5…

“You can’t promise to ban foie gras and fur sales, then quietly negotiate away the legal power to deliver on those promises. If it’s too cruel to produce here, it’s too cruel to import.” - Tashi Thomas, Head of UK Policy, API inews.co.uk/news/politics/…

🇳🇿NZ farmers left sow stalls and battery cages behind. Imports haven’t. Unfair on farmers. Unfair on animals. Unfair on Kiwis. New #FairforFarmers campaign says it plainly: If it’s not ok to produce here, it’s not ok to import and sell. @the_postnz thepost.co.nz/politics/36095…

The UK banned battery cages, sow stalls & fur farming bc these practices are too cruel, but the EU trade deal may stop us applying these standards to imports ❌️ The farming committee urges the Gov to secure welfare exemptions, like Switzerland did @amcarmichaelMP @JayneKirkham4

EFRA member @JayneKirkham4 asks Chair @amcarmichaelMP about the importance of protecting UK farmers when negotiating new trade deals. Find out more about the Committee's report into UK-EU trade: committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/e…

News in Trade: The EFRA Select Committee has urged the Government to pursue a Swiss-style exemption from dynamic alignment on animal welfare in the UK-EU SPS Agreement. This recommendation echoes calls from animal protection groups. Read more ➡️ animalpolicyinternational.org/post/house-of-…

🚨 This week is critical for protecting animals and ensuring that the long-awaited foie gras import ban is delivered. Just days before taking office, the Government promised to ban foie gras imports - made by violently force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers swell to the size of a small football. To keep that promise, they must secure an animal welfare carve-out in ongoing UK-EU trade negotiations. Today, that call has been strongly backed. The Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has published a major report urging the Government to pursue a Swiss-style carve-out on animal welfare - to stop the UK being forced to automatically follow weaker EU rules and so we have freedom to restrict certain products from entering our shores, like cruel foie gras. This is the strongest parliamentary endorsement yet of what we and our fellow campaigners have been calling for. Animal Equality UK submitted written evidence to this inquiry - and our arguments are now part of the official record shaping pressure on ministers. 👉 Share this video and tag @DefraGovUK and @biztradegovuk 👉 Urge them to demand an animal welfare carve-out - and keep their promise to animals.

“Imports should meet our domestic animal welfare standards. If certain practices are too cruel for our farms, they should also be unacceptable at our borders.” 👏 👏 Great piece by @sam_carling_ @LabourList labourlist.org/2026/01/standi…

We are urging the Government to ensure that any trade deals involving closer alignment with the EU do not place unnecessary burdens on the UK agrifood sector. Read our report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmse…

China (the world’s largest chicken producer) has seen years of falling poultry prices due to production rising faster than demand Excess supply has been pushed into exports, while imports have fallen, partly due to HPAI bans and tariffsSo

When schools buy chicken from places like China, Brazil and Thailand, they’re often fuelling demand for farming practices banned in Britain ❌ Time to close the imports loophole➰ Thanks for the article @GwynLoader @BBCNews bbc.com/news/articles/…

If a practice is too cruel for food produced in Britain, it should be too cruel for food imported into Britain. I spoke in Parliament to argue that higher welfare standards on British farms should not be undermined by lower-welfare imports.

⚠️ Shadow Defra Minister @DrNeilHudson raises concerns about EU regulatory alignment: "UK standards are higher than the EU's. Returning to alignment would make us rule takers, not rule makers." Ministers must match their rhetoric with action on animal welfare.

🐄 @SarahDykeLD: Lib Dems are calling for the Swiss model in UK-EU negotiations to properly protect British welfare standards. "The Conservatives sold British farmers down the river. We now have the chance to get this right."

🚨 British farmers must not be undercut by imports produced to lower welfare standards. The Government must ensure any EU deal protects our farmers from unfair competition. Thank you @sam_carling_ for securing this debate!

HAPPENING NOW: @sam_carling_ leading a crucial Commons debate on the effects of imports on farming and animals. Fairness means a level playing field. British farmers shouldn't have to compete with a race to the bottom in global trade. It's time for consistent standards.

.@timfarron makes passionate points that “UK animal welfare standards MUST apply to imports… we must not throw our farmers, and our standards, under the bus” he concludes