Safeguarding UK animal welfare standards in the face of a US trade deal
Both RSPCA Assured and the RSPCA are concerned that the trade deal between the UK and the United States could negatively impact farmed animal welfare standards and the livelihoods of British farmers.
The deal represents an opportunity for trade, but at a risk. It could mean that cheap food produced to standards lower than those allowed in the UK is imported and sold on our supermarket shelves. This not only risks lowering UK food standards, but also undermines UK farmers who can’t compete. It could also lead to a "race to the bottom" on standards, where low prices become more important than quality and welfare.
Currently, there are certain practices common in the US that are illegal in the UK. This includes, for example, battery cages for hens, sow stalls for pigs, and controversial preparation methods like chlorine-washing chicken and growth hormone injections in beef cattle.
We hope that the UK Government will uphold its commitment to high animal welfare and ensure British farmers are safeguarded.
Why the concern? US vs UK standards
The differences in farming practices between the US and the UK are stark. Here’s a look at some key areas where the standards diverge. These differences highlight why imports or animal products produced under US standards pose a threat to UK animal rights and welfare.
* The RSPCA pioneered CCTV use in slaughterhouses in 2011, which became law in England and Scotland in 2018, followed by Wales in 2024.
** Except newly hatched poultry.
The UK’s trade deal with the US has raised several concerns regarding both animal welfare and a potential lowering of UK food standards.
Does the UK allow cattle to be given hormones?
No, the use of hormones for growth promotion in beef cattle is banned in the UK and across the EU. UK farmers produce hormone-free beef.
Is all US beef hormone-treated?
While not all US beef is hormone-treated, the practice of using growth hormone injections is legal and widespread in the US, making it a significant concern for imports.
American beef produced using growth hormones has been banned in both UK and EU legislation for over 20 years due to concerns about the safety of consuming meat from animals treated with these hormones. There are also worries about the lower welfare conditions in which cattle treated with these hormones are often reared, such as feedlots, which are commonly used in the US.
Is hormone-treated beef safe?
As an organisation solely dedicated to animal welfare, we don’t have the expertise to comment on human health concerns. However, we understand that the UK government has banned hormone-treated beef due to concerns about the potential impacts on both human health and animal welfare.
From an animal welfare perspective, RSPCA Assured and the RSPCA support the UK ban on hormone-treated beef. The impact of these hormones on animal welfare is poorly understood, and we also have concerns about the type of farming systems in which growth hormones are commonly used. These systems are often ‘feedlots’ or similar close confinement housing, where the focus is on cattle growing quickly, unnatural diets with potential health impacts, in barren conditions with minimal space.
Does the UK import beef from the USA?
Yes, but very small amounts, mainly due to the ban on hormone-treated beef. However, under the US deal, tariff-free imports of beef have increased from 1,000 tonnes annually to 13,000 tonnes. Although these cannot include hormone-treated beef, the RSPCA remains concerned that it may include beef reared under standards that are far lower than permitted in the UK. We wait for the full legal text to ensure lower-welfare products aren't allowed in.
What does the RSPCA want to see happen next?
The RSPCA believes that any trade deal must include robust guarantees for animal welfare, such as:
- The recognition of animal sentience is written into trade agreements.
- A clear ban on importing products from animals reared to standards that are lower than those required in the UK.
- An acknowledgement of how crucial higher welfare farming is and the need to move away from destructive low-welfare farming practices.
The UK Government has now agreed, under a separate deal with the EU, not to lower animal health and food standards in trade agreements. The RSPCA also hopes, as they scrutinise the US deal, that the promise to uphold our animal welfare standards is maintained and the floodgates are not left open to cheaper, lower-quality imports that would be illegal to produce here.
About the author
Jodie - Website Manager
Jodie is RSPCA Assured's Website Manager.