IMPACT OF THE WTO RULES ON ANIMAL WELFARE

Summary

That this House is concerned that the WTO rules pose an increasing threat to attempts to secure improved standards of animal welfare; is dismayed that fears of WTO challenges have led to the EU severely diluting two of its key animal protection measures, the ban on the import of furs from countries using the leghold trap and the prohibition on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals; believes that the WTO rules unduly constrain the EU's ability to introduce good new animal welfare measures and in particular to prohibit cruel rearing systems and the import of products derived from animals reared in such systems; believes that the WTO rules must be reformed to allow other legitimate considerations such as animal welfare to take an equal place alongside trade liberalisation; welcomes the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers' statement stressing that international acknowledgement of animal welfare rules must be one of the EU's key objectives for the next WTO round; and urges Her Majesty's Government to take the lead in persuading its EU partners to press vigorously for the adverse impact of the WTO rules on animal welfare to be brought to an end.

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Timeline

1. 24 January 2000

   Early Day Motion

   That this House is concerned that the WTO rules pose an increasing threat to attempts to secure improved standards of animal welfare; is dismayed that fears of WTO challenges have led to the EU severely diluting two of its key animal protection measures, the ban on the import of furs from countries using the leghold trap and the prohibition on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals; believes that the WTO rules unduly constrain the EU's ability to introduce good new animal welfare measures and in particular to prohibit cruel rearing systems and the import of products derived from animals reared in such systems; believes that the WTO rules must be reformed to allow other legitimate considerations such as animal welfare to take an equal place alongside trade liberalisation; welcomes the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers' statement stressing that international acknowledgement of animal welfare rules must be one of the EU's key objectives for the next WTO round; and urges Her Majesty's Government to take the lead in persuading its EU partners to press vigorously for the adverse impact of the WTO rules on animal welfare to be brought to an end.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• Bill Etherington · Labour · Primary sponsor

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