Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent steps she has taken to ensure all trade deals include the strongest animal welfare standards.

Decisions on animal welfare standards are a matter for the UK and are made separately from trade agreements. All food imports must comply with our high standards and the Government is working to secure world-class free trade agreements that uphold our manifesto commitment to not compromise on the UK’s animal welfare standards for which our country is rightly renowned.

We have secured ground-breaking provisions on animal welfare with Australia and New Zealand. This includes a standalone animal welfare chapter, a non-regression clause and a comprehensive partnership to work with Australia and New Zealand, including internationally, to progress animal welfare.