Food Production: Animal Welfare

Mr. Hoyle
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that food sold in England meets domestic standards of animal welfare in its production.

Jonathan Shaw
Most of the laws on farmed animal welfare are agreed at EU level and reflected in our domestic legislation. Inspections are carried out in this country to ensure compliance by producers. World trade rules prevent us from banning imports on the grounds of third country welfare standards.