EU and England Commit to Closer Cooperation on Animal Welfare

On 19 May, the European Union and the United Kingdom renewed their commitment to working towards a common veterinary area.

This development could be of decisive importance for animals, as it reduces the regulatory burden and strengthens alignment to improve animal welfare.

Following the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union in 2020, trade in animals and animal products continued without a common framework for aligning animal health and animal welfare standards. Under the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in January 2021, delays and complications arose in trade, particularly involving live animals, due to additional controls and paperwork.

At the EU-UK Summit on 19 May, both sides agreed on the creation of a common veterinary area, including an agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS). This would simplify the movement of animals between the EU and the United Kingdom by aligning rules on animal health, animal welfare, food safety and consumer protection. With both partners following the same regulations, fewer checks and certifications would be required, thereby reducing stress on animals during transport.

The agreement provides for “dynamic alignment,” meaning the United Kingdom would automatically adopt all new EU legislation affecting an area covered by the SPS agreement. If the EU were to revise its animal welfare regulations, including a ban on cage farming of livestock — something the United Kingdom is also considering — both countries would simultaneously adopt the new legislation, thereby raising standards across the board.

This is also important for consumer safety. The SPS agreement stipulates that products such as hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken may no longer be imported into the common area; this comes at an opportune time, as the United Kingdom is currently negotiating trade agreements with countries such as the United States, which may push for a relaxation of these hygiene and food safety standards.

Some flexibility remains for the United Kingdom. It may opt out of dynamic alignment with new EU regulations under three cumulative conditions:

• Its standards do not fall below those of the EU;
• It does not block EU exports to Great Britain;
• Only compliant animals and products enter the EU.

This means the United Kingdom could still introduce stricter animal welfare laws — such as a ban on the export of live animals, a ban on the import of puppies, or clearer labelling of farming practices — provided these products do not negatively affect the EU market.

However, if the United Kingdom raises its standards above those of the EU, it would still be required to accept EU products that meet only EU regulations. We urge the parties to correct this imbalance so that both sides accept only products that meet their highest animal welfare standards and respect the ethical concerns of British citizens.

Eurogroup for Animals and the Trade and Animal Welfare Coalition (TAWC) welcome the renewed commitment of the EU and the United Kingdom to work together. By building a robust, animal welfare-based veterinary agreement, the EU and the United Kingdom can take a leading role in protecting animals and upholding values shared by citizens on both sides of the Channel.

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