Farmers now threat being undercut by imports after Labour’s animal welfare reforms

Labour dealt another blow to farmers on Monday as they announced animal welfare changes that could see them being undercut by foreign competitors.

Under the plans, which are part of the Government’s animal welfare strategy, colony cages, used to hold dozens of chickens, and farrowing crates, which enclose female pigs after they have given birth, would be banned.

However, these methods are legal in countries such as Poland, Spain and Ireland, which export to Britain. And while the EU has pledged to phase out caged farming by 2027, progress has been slow.

It raises fears British farmers will be undercut by cheaper meat flooding in from abroad.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers’ Union, said: ‘If the Government proposes raising domestic animal welfare standards further it must also take steps to ensure consumers are protected from imported food that could be produced to lower standards, and that British farmers are not asked to compete with imports produced at those lower standards which would be illegal for them to work to.

‘We have long called for a set of core standards for food imported into the UK; it must meet the same production standards as asked of our farmers.’

And Victoria Atkins, Tory environment spokesman, said: ‘Labour is yet again favouring foreign farmers over British farmers by allowing substandard foreign imports to undercut our already-high welfare standards.’

The Government’s strategy also proposes banning trail hunting, with officials claiming it is a ‘smokescreen’ for illegal fox hunting.

Colony cages, which hold large numbers of chickens, would be banned under the government’s new plans

Farrowing crates, used to enclose female pigs after they have given birth, would also be banned

The PM’s spokesman denied plans amounted to a ‘war on the countryside’, adding: ‘We have said that we share the British public’s high regard for the countryside in lots of ways, whether it’s through farming or the animal welfare strategy.’

But Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: ‘Trail hunting is a legal activity which supports hundreds of jobs and is central to many rural communities. 

‘The Government should be focusing on addressing issues that actually help rural communities thrive, rather than pursuing divisive policies that hinder them.’