MP BACKS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT

Date: 23rd October 2002
Released by: ANDREW TURNER
Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight

Island MP Andrew Turner has backed “British Food Fortnight”, which begins on Saturday 26th October, with a warning that standards of animal welfare overseas are well below those in the United Kingdom.

Mr Turner said, “I welcome ‘British Food Fortnight’. The whole of the agriculture sector – on the Island and across the country – is under serious pressure. Greater commitment by retailers, especially supermarkets, to promote British food would help alleviate that pressure. But another important aspect of British Food Fortnight is that it’s good for animal welfare and good for consumers. The standard of animal welfare among our main trading partners is well below that in Britain. So whether people want to help British farmers or improve animal welfare, this is the fortnight to make a particular effort to buy British food wherever possible.

“On animal welfare, there is strong public feeling against farming systems that are considered to be cruel. MPs are rightly pressed to improve animal welfare – but we only have power to do so in this country. And if we add to farmers’ costs here, they lose out to overseas competitors where standards are not as high.”

Mr Turner went on to give examples of lower animal welfare standards overseas:

• “For chicken, British standards of welfare are as high as anywhere in the EU, and much higher than in countries like China and Thailand. Furthermore the rules are better enforced in the UK than in the Mediterranean as the concern over animal welfare is greater here.
• “For eggs, Britain has legislation covering the description ‘free range’, so the consumer does not pay extra for eggs produced by hens reared in systems no better than battery cages.
• “For pigs, the UK banned the use of pig stalls and tethers from 1999 but Europe has only just released legislation on these which won’t take effect until 2006.
• “Furthermore in the UK there is a ban on the use of mammalian meat and bone-meal in cattle feed, to prevent BSE. There is no similar ban in the EU.

“These rules make animal welfare in the UK better than in the EU. However, it also increases the costs of production, as a result of which British farmers have suffered severe losses in the past few years.

“British Food Fortnight gives consumers the opportunity to learn more about high quality British food compared with imports with lower animal welfare standards and sometimes worrying implications for human health. I hope people across the Island will support this event”