The RSPCA has warned against any draft deal to scrap Brexit red tape reversing “hard gotten gains” for animal welfare – amid fears further alignment with the European Union sees the UK Government row back on key welfare improvements.
The UK and EU have agreed a draft deal on removing most post-Brexit checks for food and agriculture exports and imports ahead of the UK-EU summit on November 20.
The charity has warned that while information released so far is positive news for food imports and pet owners travelling with their furry friends, including the reintroduction of pet passports, further alignment with the EU “without rigorous safeguards” could spell bad news for some other key animal welfare issues.
David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “The UK is a leader on many aspects of animal welfare. Following EU rules without rigorous safeguards could put us at a sharp disadvantage.
“Since leaving the EU, we’ve been able to fully ban live exports after decades of campaigning. The UK Government has also committed to consultations on the banning of farrowing crates, laying hens in cages and just last week the phase out of carbon dioxide as a method of stunning/killing pigs.
“We are now concerned that further alignment with the EU could mean rowing back on these vital improvements. Presently, the EU has yet to implement any of these improvements for farmed animal welfare – so the UK Government must not sacrifice these hard gotten gains as part of any realignment. These issues must be red lines for the Prime Minister.”
