Animal welfare groups scrutinise EU free trade deals

They argue that the EU should also condition market liberalisation only to products that comply with high animal welfare standards. This would, they say, not only restore the level playing field, but also incentivise producers based on trading partner countries to adopt higher animal welfare standards and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Eurogroup for Animals said the study “Cumulative economic impacts of trade agreements on EU Agriculture,” had confirmed that unconditional market access granted in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) significantly increases trade in animal products, fuelling intensive farming both in the EU and abroad. The DG AGRI study looked at evaluating the impact of 12 FTAs either currently being negotiated or concluded by the EU on the agricultural sector towards 2030. It found that when FTAs were in place, EU pork and dairy exports grew, while the EU market was often fuelled by imported poultry meat, beef, and sheep. On ...