Like many UK animal groups, Animal Equality was worried by the prospect of Britain leaving the EU and what this would mean for our area of focus, farmed animals. Despite assurances that the UK won’t be dropping its current welfare standards to meet those countries that we want to trade with, it still remains to be seen when and how the billions of animals on farms all over the UK will be affected by our departure from the EU.
There is one positive aspect to Brexit and the potential opportunity to change our trade regulations. Until now, campaigns to ban imports of certain cruel animal products have stumbled due to our membership of the EU single market. This means that all member countries are treated as one market and individual states cannot ban a product from other parts of the EU. However, with it looking increasing likely that the UK will be leaving the single market, this could be about to change — spelling good news for Animal Equality’s #FoieGrasFreeGB campaign.