ANIMAL WELFARE rules are set to get tighter for UK farmers – but there is no parallel plan to make food imports match up to the same standards.

UK farmers' leaders this week expressed 'serious concerns' over the Westminster Government's one-sided ‘Action Plan for Animal Welfare’, warning that it risked undercutting our own farmers with cheap, low welfare, animal products from overseas.

English NFU president Minette Batters said: “I have serious concerns about the government’s intention to raise the bar at home, without any certainty that the same standards will be applied to imports. There are still many practices allowed in countries we are currently negotiating with that are banned here, on welfare grounds.

“For example, it is not uncommon to see journey times for live animals in Australia exceed 24 hours without access to feed or water. In comparison, the government has recently consulted on reducing domestic journey times in the UK to eight hours," observed Ms Batters.

“It’s also important to recognise that two sectors the government has singled out, poultry and pigs, have some of the highest engagement levels in farm assurances schemes, meaning they are managed and audited against robust animal welfare standards.

“Just over a quarter of eggs sold in retail last year were from enriched cages," she added. "If this production system were to be banned in this country then there is every prospect that the demand would simply be fulfilled by importing eggs from countries with lower standards.

“If the government is to raise the welfare bar here, it must do so for food imports," insisted the union president. " It would simply be hypocritical to do otherwise. We cannot have a situation where British farmers adhere to some of the highest standards in the world, only to be undercut by imports that barely meet the lowest rung on the ladder."

The National Sheep Association agreed that the only way high welfare farming could be economically viable was if imports were held to the same standards. Its chief executive, Phil Stocker, said: “NSA is still highly concerned over the proposals outlined in the Government’s recent consultation on journey times and welfare in transport and we do not feel that an outright ban on live exports for slaughter is necessary.

"We believe there are more creative and intelligent ways to ensure good welfare outcomes and that there are cases where moving animals short distances across the English Channel makes sense."

He added: "The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway planned for launch in 2022 gives the opportunity for something we all want to see – improved animal health and well-being, improved productivity and efficient resource use, and less reliance on financial support integrated with environmental gains and enhancements.

"Many of the UK’s sheep farmers are already farming in a regenerative farming manner, and are doing a lot to work in harmony with nature, producing sustainable and high quality products that needs to be rewarded accordingly.”

The RSPCA warmly welcomed the UK Government’s plan. A coalition of 50 animal welfare charities recently called on Boris Johnson's government to use Brexit to 'redefine' the UK's relationship with animals through a new animal health and welfare strategy.