Starmer Warns EU: No UK Animal Slaughter

The UK used the freedoms of Brexit to ban the cruel practice of fattening horses, pigs, sheep, and cows and transporting them to slaughterhouses.

Campaigners fear the ban could jeopardize UK-EU animal health negotiations, forcing Britain to comply with the bloc's laws on animal health.

They also warn of dire consequences, as less stringent European rules would hamper British efforts to slaughter pigs and improve conditions in chicken cages.

The Telegraph has learned that London has told the EU it wants to retain the power to set high standards for animal welfare ahead of talks between officials next week.

But Brussels is under pressure from EU capitals not to exclude too many British people from the alignment deal, fearing the UK will gain exclusive access to the single market. 'Animal welfare standards can be negotiated'

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: "Both existing British animal welfare standards – such as the ban on live animal exports – and future progress to improve our animal standards, such as a ban on cages for laying hens – can be negotiated.

"It is up to the government to stand firmly and support our farmers and animal welfare standards. They cannot allow existing or future standards to be weakened at the expense of agreeing more free trade with the EU."

A government spokesperson said: "We are focused on securing a food and drink deal, which could add up to £5.1 billion to our economy every year by reducing costs for British businesses and reducing red tape. We will not comment on ongoing negotiations."

It said that in May, some exemptions were agreed with the EU. It is understood that the government also wants to exempt gene-edited crops and Scottish oats from EU rules.

British negotiators want to reach an agreement to rejoin the EU Pet Passport Scheme, which would make it easier and cheaper to take dogs, cats, and ferrets on holidays.

But there are fears that reduced checking and the ease with which fake pet passports can be obtained could fuel the cruel illegal puppy smuggling trade.

Mr. Boles said: "While the RSPCA supports methods that can help trade between the two partners by reducing bureaucratic form-filling, this should not risk preventing measures to prevent illegal puppy imports or improve the welfare of pigs." Under pressure from Conservatives and farmers, the EU scaled back recent measures to improve animal welfare standards.

The European Commission had planned to legislate to gradually eliminate caged chickens and other animals. However, after farmers revolted against EU regulations, which were deemed too burdensome amid a growing inflation crisis, it postponed the 2023 bill plan until next year.

Protests against the green policies have continued since then, with the center-right European People's Party (EPP) calling itself the "farmers' party."

The EPP is the largest party in the European Parliament, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a member.

Ms. von der Leyen agreed earlier this year to demands for animal protection, relaxing strict protections for wolves and banning pesticide use by 2030 following last year's tractor protests. Plans to halve the number of sheep exported were canceled.

This trade At its peak in the 1990s, when it had over 400,000 individuals, 1.5 million calves and 1.5 million sheep were exported each year. This declined sharply after BSE. By the 2010s, only about 50,000 sheep and a few thousand calves were exported live each year.

By the time the ban came into effect, trade had fallen by more than 90 percent.

The European Commission declined to comment.