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| PET GAZETTE | SOAPBOX
ANIMAL WELFARE
AND BREXIT:
WHAT DOES THE
FUTURE HOLD?
While the consequences of the UK leaving the EU remain relatively
unknown we can make some predictions about what will happen
with regards to animal welfare post-Brexit. Luna Williams ponders
the possible changes to the sector in this article
W
ith Brexit-day looming,
important topics are being
discussed. People are asking
questions. What will happen
to business after Brexit? What
about the NHS? How will travel and tourism be
affected once Free Movement has ended?
While the answers to these questions are
certainly important, there are other questions
being asked, many of which are struggling to
be heard over the noise. What about animal
welfare? Is Brexit going to be good or bad for
its future?
Historically, changes to British animal
welfare regulations have been restricted by
our membership to the EU. This was touted
by Leave campaigners before the referendum
as a reason to exit the union, with Brexiteers
arguing that the EU was responsible for
implementing immovable regulations for the
treatment of farm animals, which were not
open to improvement.
However, with over 80% of our current
animal welfare legislation implemented by
EU law, there is a growing concern that Brexit
could just as equally jeopardise the future of
animal welfare in Britain, for the sake of trade
and economic interest. With Brexit imminent,
the welfare of animals is at a crossroads.
Leaving the EU could either make or break its
future.
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EU ANIMAL WELFARE
REGULATIONS
For example, the USA has signifi cantly poorer
animal welfare regulations in place to regulate
the living conditions of their farm animals; they
As it stands, the EU is responsible for 40 of the
still use conventional battery cages for chickens,
UK’s 50 animal welfare regulations, equating
to 80%. Each of these regulations is focused on give growth hormones to their cows and use
monitoring and improving the wellbeing of wild traditional sow stalls to store their pigs. All of
these factors result in a much poorer quality
animals, animals in agriculture, companion
of life for animals, who are either forced to
animals and animals used in medical and
grow to unnatural sizes or kept in conditions in
cosmetic research.
which they cannot take more than one or two
The Lisbon Treaty is a binding agreement
steps forwards or backwards. These types of
between all EU states which recognises that
practices have been proven to cause signifi cant
animals are sentient, able to experience pain
and suffering. This treaty agrees that, as a result amounts of stress in animals; with many
of this, all animals should be treated humanely suffering from a shorter life-span, fur/feather
and with compassion. The treaty is responsible loss and anxiety-related behaviours.
Although leaving behind EU regulations
for the basis of many of the regulations put
will mean that the UK can alter their animal
in place by the EU to protect animals and
welfare regulations for the better, Brexit could
minimise the stress and pain which is infl icted
also mean the opposite. If the UK becomes a
on them in each of the key environments.
key trade partner with countries like the USA
Because of this, animal rights activists are
which are not regulated, there is a risk that
focussed on ensuring that the UK continues to
it will adopt some of these same practices.
recognise animal sentience when it leaves the
EU and is no longer subject to The Lisbon Treaty For those who are concerned about animal
rights, this would mean that the UK is moving
and other EU regulations.
backgrounds in their approach to animal
welfare as opposed to forwards.
TRADE
The future of animal welfare needs to be
secured and ideally improved after Brexit.
WORKERS
However, hypothetical future trade agreements With countries like the US as major trade
are causing many to be fearful of whether this
partners, British farmers will need to compete
will be the case.
with cheaper imports in order to avoid losing
March 2019