‘Tell your MPs to safeguard animal welfare in the post-Brexit era’ - The Evesham Observer

‘Tell your MPs to safeguard animal welfare in the post-Brexit era’

Evesham Editorial 28th Sep, 2020   0

THE RSPCA is urging people to lobby their local MPs to safeguard animal welfare post-Brexit.

Members of Parliament have the option to vote to ban lower welfare imports when the Agriculture Bill returns to the House of Commons for a crunch vote next Wednesday, October 7.

On September 22 the Lords voted through a crucial amendment to the Agriculture Bill to ban imports of products produced to a lower welfare standard than the UK by a majority of 100.

But as the Bill returns to the Commons the charity says a failure by MPs to support it will leave the UK facing a flood of imports such as chlorinated chicken, eggs from hens kept in barren battery cages, pork from pigs reared in sow stalls and hormone beef.




Those products are currently illegal in the UK because of its high welfare standards.

The Government made a manifesto promise to stop lower standard imports when the UK left the EU, but has failed to enshrine this in law.


Figures show 75 per cent of people in the West Midlands want lower standard imports to be banned post Brexit.

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “The Government must now honour its manifesto promise and back this amendment.

“If it doesn’t, MPs must vote with their conscience and reflect the strong feelings of the public.

“It’s a choice between protecting the UK’s globally-recognised high farm animal welfare standards or allowing in products like chlorinated chicken and hormone beef from abroad.”

And he warned a no deal Brexit – which now looks more likely – could see the UK face a flood of imported food illegal in the UK.

Such a move, he said, would risk setting back animal welfare for many years ahead and threaten UK farmers’ livelihoods as they would be undercut by imports produced to much lower welfare methods.

Visit rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/farmanimals/ to sign the petition.

Advertising

Advertise with the Evesham Observer to reach your audience

Recruitment

Find a career you'll love with our free career finder website.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.