The UK’s exit from the EU and its impacts on farm animal welfare & agricultural trade Steve Webster EU Referendum: a spotlight on farming and food Food Ethics Council and the Kindling Trust April 19 th 2016

The EU and farm animal welfare: general principles COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes E.g. Freedom of movement (para. 7 of Annex) The freedom of movement of an animal, having regard to its species and in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge, must not be restricted in such a way as to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury.

The EU and farm animal welfare: species directives COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2007/43/EC of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2008/120/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2008/119/EC of 18 December 2008 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves

The EU and farm animal welfare: species detail E.g. COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2008/120/EC Article 3 1. Member States shall ensure that all holdings comply with the following requirements: (b) when concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups: (i)the maximum width of the openings must be: — 11 mm for piglets, — 14 mm for weaners, — 18 mm for rearing pigs, — 20 mm for gilts after service and sows; (ii) the minimum slat width must be: — 50 mm for piglets and weaners, and — 80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service and sows.

The EU and animal welfare: common practices COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing

The EU and farm animal welfare: practice detail E.g. COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1/2005 Annex 1, Chapter III, 1.4. (a)Ramps shall not be steeper than an angle of 20 degrees, that is 36.4 % to the horizontal for pigs, calves and horses and an angle of 26 degrees 34 minutes, that is 50 % to the horizontal for sheep and cattle other than calves. Where the slope is steeper than 10 degrees, that is 17.6 % to the horizontal, ramps shall be fitted with a system, such as provided by foot battens, which ensure that the animals climb or go down without risks or difficulties;

EU regulations provide necessary baseline standards for the most intensive systems and the most common practices

The animal welfare influence Based on the extent and influence of farm animal welfare charities, the extent of animal welfare ‘abuses’ reported by NGOs, and the timescale for the implementation of EU regulations through national legislation… Northern Europe leads in terms of animal welfare The UK’s departure from the EU would remove a significant, positive influence from the table.

Animal numbers (millions), UK and EU UKEU total UK % Bovines % Pigs % Sheep % Dairy cows % Poultry (million tonnes) %

Does the UK gold-plate legislation? Not generally, no. Although we implemented regulations banning sow stalls in 1999 (EU ban in place: 2013)

Could we gold-plate legislation? COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999 laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens Article 13(2). The Member States may, while respecting the general rules laid down in the Treaty, maintain or apply within their territories provisions for the protection of laying hens which are more stringent than those envisaged by this Directive. They shall inform the Commission of any measure taken to that end.

Could we reduce baseline animal welfare standards if outside the EU? E.g. COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2008/120/EC (pigs) Article 9. In order to be imported into the Community, animals coming from a third country must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the competent authority of that country, certifying that they have received treatment at least equivalent to that granted to animals of Community origin as provided for by this Directive. E.g. COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 1099/2009 (slaughter) Article 12. Imports from third countries The requirements laid down in Chapters II and III of this Regulation shall apply for the purposes of Article 12(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 854/2004. The health certificate accompanying meat imported from third countries shall be supplemented by an attestation certifying that requirements at least equivalent to those laid down in Chapters II and III of this Regulation have been met.

If the EU sets baseline welfare standards, who drives animal welfare improvements? Highest welfare Animal welfare as a niche/market differentiator Medium welfare Slaughter protocols and farm standards (e.g. RSPCA) for CSR aims Standard welfare Farm standards (e.g. Red Tractor) to mitigate against risks Animal welfare is driven by customer demand, but it costs

Would BREXIT impact on higher levels of animal welfare? Negative impacts on the economy will have a detrimental impact on animal welfare. Positive impacts on the economy will improve animal welfare. This will happen not only as a result of shifts in footfall between retailers, but also as direct result of retailers downgrading their standards.

Do we need to trade with the EU? Seasonality of production means we need, at current production levels, at times, to export. Large and accessible EU customer base places increased power in the hands of primary producers. Higher export costs increase the power of the supermarkets. Reduced ability to export / increased costs of export  shrinking of production base. As such, the increased costs of exporting surplus production might potentially increase imports. Increased exposure to (non-EU) imports may put downward pressure on farm animal welfare.

BREXIT impacts on agricultural trade o All exit scenarios and studies point to increased volatility and increased costs of import/export. o Possible increases in food prices in the UK would be beneficial for farming but would be countered by increased import costs. o Volatility will benefit those farmers with largest cash reserves. *Smaller and marginal farm businesses, e.g. hill farmers, beef and sheep production, most likely to suffer*

BREXIT impacts on subsidies UK Government traditionally opposed to subsidy model (A Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy, HM Treasury & Defra, 2005) BUT reliant on subsidies (the SFP) as the “carrot” for cross-compliance and environmental payments to “manage” extensive/upland areas SO removal of subsidies would be contingent on either increased inspection or reduced compliance/environmental management. *Whether within or outside the EU, a reduction in the SFP and payments for environment agreements would impact mostly on smaller and marginal farm businesses with highest reliance e.g. hill farmers, beef and sheep production*

Conclusions Exiting EU should not impact detrimentally on UK baseline FAW regulations but might well impact on higher-levels of animal welfare, and would likely increase imports from non-EU countries with lower FAW standards; Exiting the EU will increase the buying power of UK retailers if export costs are increased and will increase volatility in agricultural markets. These factors will impact detrimentally on smaller-scale and more marginal farm business, particularly sheep and beef producers.