British pig farmers are worried about the potential impact of the UK-US trade deal on their industry. They fear that the agreement might allow the import of US pork produced with practices not allowed in the UK, specifically regarding antibiotic use and animal welfare. The National Pig Association (NPA) has written to the trade minister, expressing their concerns and urging for the recognition of the differences in production standards between the two countries.
A major point of contention is the use of antibiotics in US pig farming, which is significantly higher than in the UK. The NPA highlighted that sow stalls, banned in the UK since 1999, are still used in the US. The UK has also substantially reduced antibiotic use in its pig industry. The NPA argues that allowing imports produced to lower standards would be unfair to British farmers and could threaten public health due to antibiotic resistance.
The UK government insists that it will uphold its high food safety and animal welfare standards. However, concerns remain, particularly as the government is reported to have secured carve-outs from tariffs on British steel and car-making. The debate also involves other agricultural products like chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef. A simultaneous political debate about the recently signed UK-India trade deal further complicates matters, with accusations from opposition parties about tax exemptions granted to Indian workers.