High welfare standards give UK pig men an advantage Morley
22 September 1998
‘High welfare standards give UK pig men an advantage’ — Morley
By FWi staff
JUNIOR farm minister Elliot Morley has claimed that high welfare standards give pig producers a clear advantage when it comes to marketing pigmeat.
But pig producers claim some supermarkets are continuing to stock up on imported pigmeat produced under conditions which would be illegal in the UK.
Speaking during a visit to the Malton Bacon factory in Yorkshire, Mr Morley said: “I understand the real problems being faced by pig farmers and that they feel they are being disadvantaged by the high welfare requirements of the UK.
“However, I believe that welfare is and will increasingly become an important advantage in selling their produce.”
Mr Morley said there was a trend among supermarkets to source more pigmeat from the UK and refer to the welfare standards of production on the labels of products.
Asda announced last week that it now buys all its fresh pork and loose bacon from Britain. But some supermarkets appear reluctant to follow suit.
A recent survey by Compassion in World Farming attacked Somerfield for continuing to stock Dutch and Danish pigmeat not subject to the UKs stringent welfare conditions.
However, the Iceland chain appears to be paying more attention to pigmeat that may have been produced under “cruel” foreign systems.
Tesco and Sainsburys have already given some wide-ranging assurances to their pig suppliers. Both have pledged to avoid any pigmeat that is not produced to high welfare and fully traceable standards.