UK farmers' union calls for fair animal welfare rules

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has told Brussels' policy makers to spare UK farmers of new animal welfare rules at least until other EU member states have fully enforced the current regulations.

 

Speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels recently, Meurig Raymond, NFU deputy president, said UK farmers practised some of the highest welfare standards in Europe, but were put at a competitive disadvantage by nations rearing animals to a lower welfare standard.

 

''We are proud to have led the charge on animal welfare in UK but we are rarely compensated in the market place,'' said Raymond.

 

It is often the case that other countries can produce animals and animal products for less because their standards are not as high, he said.

 

''Existing legislation must be implemented fairly across all member states, and any global partners wanting to trade with us. This should be the primary goal before current rules are made more difficult,'' he said.

 

Raymond was speaking at a high-profile hearing into how future animal health policy should progress in Europe.

 

He used the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive, which stipulates that all hens across Europe should be out of conventional cages by 2012, to highlight his wider concerns.

 

He said the Directive would cost the UK poultry industry more than GBP1 billion (US$1.6 billion) to implement, but worried other countries would lag behind. 

 

''I am absolutely confident that the UK poultry farmers will be ready and fully compliant with the 2012 deadline,'' he said, despite admitting the financial outlay would probably force some poultry farmers out of business. 

 

But he said some nations were seeking a derogation to extend the 2012 deadline and warned a Commission loophole could allow countries to continue trading eggs in Europe despite ''not demonstrating compliance' with the directive.

 

''This will threaten the competitiveness and viability of UK poultry farmers who have worked hard to implement the new regulations,'' he said.

 

The European Commission is currently gauging opinion across member states before bringing out new proposals on animal welfare, expected before the end of 2010.