The time is right for animal welfare import requirements

Recent EU trade agreements with Australia, Mercosur, and Mexico have shown a growing focus on animal welfare as part of EU trade policy. While the EU-Australia agreement includes animal welfare conditions for key agricultural products like bovine meat, sheep meat, and shell eggs, the EU-Mercosur agreement has limited provisions for animal welfare, primarily affecting shell eggs. This inconsistency highlights the need for more consistent application of animal welfare standards across all trade deals.

As the EU revises its animal welfare legislation, there is an opportunity to ensure that animal welfare standards apply to all products entering the EU market. Without strong animal welfare import requirements, there is a risk of continued trade in low welfare products that do not meet EU citizens' expectations. Trade agreements can serve as a platform to engage partner countries in moving towards these animal welfare objectives, emphasizing the importance of clear and enforceable animal welfare import requirements in the upcoming revision.