The federal government has issued a agency pledge to guard UK meals below future commerce offers.
In its Commerce Technique, printed final week, the federal government mentioned it could ‘proceed to uphold the UK’s product laws and encourage the use and growth of bold worldwide requirements’.
“A thriving agriculture sector underpins our meals safety and helps the prosperity of regional communities throughout the UK. We won’t decrease meals requirements and can uphold excessive animal welfare requirements,” the doc mentioned.
“We recognise issues about strategies of manufacturing, resembling sow stalls and battery cages, which aren’t permitted within the UK. Whereas strategies range in keeping with totally different climates, illnesses and different contextual causes, we are going to all the time think about whether or not abroad produce has an unfair benefit and any affect that will have.
“The place mandatory, we can be ready to make use of the total vary of powers at our disposal to guard our most delicate sectors together with everlasting quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
“We’ll all the time keep UK ranges of statutory safety in relation to human, animal or plants or well being, animal welfare, and the setting.”
The technique highlights the federal government’s need to hunt ‘honest and balanced offers’ which embody new export alternatives.
Sturdy dedication
The dedication was welcomed by trade and NGOs.
NPA senior coverage adviser Tom Haynes mentioned: “Whereas every commerce deal presents its personal challenges, the technique’s particular point out of variations in methodology of manufacturing represents a powerful dedication.”
David Bowles, RSPCA’s head of public affairs, mentioned: “The brand new UK Commerce Technique is nice information for animals.
The best animal welfare ought to be on the coronary heart of a world class agri-food and drinks sector for the UK.
“Together with a transparent dedication to safeguard animal welfare requirements, suggests the UK Authorities means enterprise when it pledges to not row again our greater animal welfare requirements.”
