Will farm animal welfare suffer after Brexit? Lords to examine
The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee will continue its inquiry into the implications of Brexit for UK agriculture. This week it examines the possible implications of withdrawing from the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU on animal health and welfare. The Committee will question the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer and the Head of EU Exit Team for Animal and Plant Health in Defra.
The prevention, detection and control of diseases is as important for the protection of animals as it is for human health. This session will explore the implications of Brexit on the lifecycle of livestock, the implications of trade on animal welfare standards and the need for co-operation with the EU on animal health and welfare.
The Committee will also examine the extent to which withdrawal from the EU will affect the UK's historically high standards in animal welfare and protection which have the lead the UK to be considered a world leader in this area.
At 10:30am the Committee will speak to:
- Nigel Gibbens CBE, Chief Veterinary Officer
- Pamela Thompson, Head of EU Exit Team for Animal & Plant Health, Defra
Questions they are likely to be asked include:
- To what extent is animal health and animal welfare regulated through EU law?
- To what extent is the prevention, detection and control of diseases such as bovine TB and avian flu done through the EU and co-operation with other Member States?
- Which EU bodies and agencies assist in the prevention, detection and control of diseases? Will the UK need to replace these bodies post-Brexit?
- What are the implications of Brexit on animal disease research and surveillance in the UK?
- To what extent will animal health and welfare be affected by a new trading regime with the EU and third countries?
- What proportion of veterinary staff working in the UK livestock industry are non-UK nationals? Are there specific jobs that would be difficult to fill without access to EU labour?
