It’s vital that the UK continues to speak up for animal welfare when finalising trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
On March 29th the Australian High Commissioner and New Zealand High Commissioner answered MPs’ questions about their animal welfare concerns around the new UK trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
Different farm animal welfare standards with Australia
The UK has higher welfare standards than Australia and there is a likelihood that unless animal welfare standards are considered in the UK Australia trade deal, animal suffering in the UK will increase as British farmers will not be able to compete with low welfare meat imports.
On top of this we will be importing meat that has been reared to lower standards and supporting cruel farming practises overseas.
World Animal Protection was pleased to see Barry Gardiner MP speak up in favour of animal welfare. Barry quoted World Animal Protection’s Animal Protection Index (API). The Animal Protection Index ranks 50 countries around the globe according to their legislation and policy commitments to protecting animals.
Mr Gardiner noted that the UK has a B for its overall Animal Welfare standards in comparison to Australia, that has a D ranking. Disappointingly, when it comes to protecting animals used in farming, Australia has an E rating and the UK only has a D.
Whilst these rankings are disappointing, we are encouraged that New Zealand ranks higher than both countries with a C for animal welfare - we hope that the trade deal with NZ will encourage a rise in welfare standards across the UK.
Mr Gardiner raised his concerns about the following differences between the UK and Australian practices.
- Mulesing (the removal of sections of skin from around the tail of a sheep, usually with no anaesthetic) is illegal in the UK. However, this cruel and barbaric practice is still legal in Australia, and it is likely that sheep imported to the UK will have been subjected to this awful procedure.
- Hot branding (the use of a hot iron to cause a permanent scar on an animal to deter theft and help with identification).
- CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses are mandatory in the UK, as opposed to in Australia where regulations are not consistent. This added level of protection ensures that animals are treated with respect and slaughterhouses abide by robust guidelines.
- The UK has stricter laws on live animal transportation - currently journey times must be no longer than eight hours in ‘basic vehicles’. The Government is consulting on new laws including a ban on some live exports, improving vehicle and ship standards, and reducing maximum lengths of transportation time. While Britain can still go further, Australia does not offer this level of protection during transportation and again – the suffering of animals is disregarded from the trade conversation.
We were pleased to hear Dr Neil Hudson MP question why the UK, New Zealand, and Australia did not agree to include a more ambitious clause in the animal welfare chapters of the trade deal. Under the current deal, countries will not be able to lower their animal welfare standards - World Animal Protection would like to see a commitment to increase standards.
The UK must learn from New Zealand on farm animal welfare
We were encouraged to hear that New Zealand aims to maintain its reputation for good farm animal welfare standards and continue working with the UK and the EU to understand the science and evidence around animal welfare. New Zealand also shared their hope to advance standards and regulatory programmes to provide for the needs of the animal.
It is our hope that the government amends this deal that disregards the UK’s animal welfare and environment standards and introduces stronger commitments to improve standards. Otherwise, we will miss a rare opportunity ensure farm animals in the UK and other countries have lives worth living, free from cruelty and pain.
Our political leaders must act to end the suffering of animals. Because when they suffer, we all suffer.
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Image credits: Blog post listing: Andrea Lightfoot/Unsplash; Blog post header: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media