Vets call for clearer commitments on welfare in trade deals
The TAC was formed in July 2020 to advise the Government on how it can uphold animal welfare standards when negotiating trade agreements.
The BVA is calling for clearer commitments to animal welfare in UK trade agreements after the Government published its response to the final Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) report.
In a press release, the Association welcomes the announcement of a new commission but warns that the response ‘falls short’ in setting out how high animal welfare standards will be maintained.
The TAC was formed in July 2020 to advise the Government on how it can uphold food production, animal welfare and environmental standards when negotiating trade agreements. In its response to the TAC’s final report, the Government sets out commentary on each of the key recommendations.
Among the recommendations include allowing zero tariffs and zero quotas for countries that can meet the same high standards of food production expected from UK producers. The BVA states that while the Government's response refers to securing animal welfare commitments, it ‘falls short of agreeing to this important recommendation’.
The BVA has also expressed concern over the Government’s response to animal welfare more broadly, which refers to developing an approach that “reflects the particular challenges faced by developing countries in meeting international agri-food standards”. The Association believes that without the appropriate procedures in place to safeguard animal welfare, it could leave the UK open to lower animal welfare imports.
Alongside its response to the TAC report, the Government has also announced a new TAC, that will be led by Lorand Bartels, Professor of International Law. The new TAC will inform MPs and the public on whether and how free trade agreements are consistent with UK laws on animal welfare, animal and plant health, and the environment.
BVA senior vice president James Russell said: “BVA fully supported the Trade and Agriculture Commission’s recommendations and had expressed concern at the delayed response from the Government while free trade negotiations were in full swing.
“The Government rightly states that the UK’s high animal welfare and environmental standards are a red line in trade deals, but we’re concerned that this response falls short of setting out the mechanisms for meeting that goal.”
He added: “We welcome the announcement of the new Commission, including members from the veterinary profession, and look forward to ongoing engagement. But to give UK trade objectives more teeth we want to see much clearer commitments to animal welfare and detail of how UK standards will be safeguarded.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
