• Compassion in World Farming is deeply concerned by the free trade agreement signed today (17th December) with Australia.
• This ultimately tariff-free deal will allow cheap imports of meat, eggs and dairy, such as beef which has reared intensively in feedlots or chicken and pork that have been routinely fed antibiotics to compensate for low welfare conditions, to be permitted into the UK.
• It threatens to damage the UK’s hard fought for animal welfare standards, and seriously undermine higher-welfare British farmers.

Dr Nick Palmer, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said:

“Compassion in World Farming is extremely disappointed and deeply concerned that the UK Government has now signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia that fails to protect UK animal welfare standards. It means British farmers will be exposed to competition from Australian imports of meat, eggs and dairy produced through inhumane production standards. These intensive farming methods cause sustained suffering to animals and, through massive overuse of antibiotics, could result in real risk to human health too.

“The UK Government has repeatedly said that our animal welfare standards will not be weakened after leaving the EU. However, this deal proves otherwise. The weak wording in this agreement must not be repeated in future trade deals, with countries like the US, Canada and India, which are likely to be signed in the future. To ensure that this deal does not become a precedent, we also urge the Government to develop a set of core standards that would need to be met in order for imports of certain products to be permitted.”

For further information or to arrange an interview contact Compassion in World Farming’s Media Team: 01483 521 615 mediateam@ciwf.org.uk