§ 27. Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications for animal welfare of further liberalisation of trade in agricultural products.[122429]
§ Ms QuinThe Government's objective is to achieve agricultural trade liberalisation alongside reductions in production-related support. The relationship with farm animal welfare is complex and varies within and between sectors. However, the guiding principle is that liberalisation should be achieved in a way which takes account of animal welfare along with other non-trade concerns.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evaluation the Government have made of the use of the Green Box of the World Trade Organisation Agriculture Agreement to compensate farmers for the extra costs of Britain's animal welfare standards. [122991]
§ Mr. Nick BrownThe Government are pressing for the relationship between farm animal welfare standards and trade rules to be addressed in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). One of these ideas we are currently examining is permitting payments made to offset additional costs associated with farm animal welfare requirements to be included in the "Green Box" under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. The effect of this would be that any such payments were not included in the aggregate measure of domestic support which is subject to reduction commitments.