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@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 1/ In the debate it’s important to distinguish between relative & absolute standards. Brexit debate eg EU/UK vs US standards is really about relative standards. EU/UK standards far higher than US.
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 2/ Eg barren battery cages banned in EU, permitted in US; sow stalls regulated (4 weeks) EU, unregulated in US (whole lives); veal crates banned EU; permitted US; EU has far higher standards vs US eg stocking densities, provision bedding, mutilations etc.
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 3/ EU prohibits hormone beef, ractopamine (growth promoter) use in pigs, chlorine washing chickens (masks poor welfare), bST hormone in dairy cows. All widespread use in US. US fed slaughter law does not cover poultry (>95% land animals slaughtered).
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 4/ Essentially, if you were a farmed animal, you would be much better off in EU vs the US. I’ve written elsewhere EU is something like 30-50 years ahead of US in animal protection, maybe more.
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 5/ None of this claims that EU/UK welfare is perfect or even satisfactory. Animal welfare groups in EU/UK campaign against all cages (e.g. @ciwf ‘End the Cage Age’), more extensive farming systems, reduced meat consumption, etc.
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 6/ Brexit debate really about relative standards. Brexit poses major risks to animal protection generally. No deal Brexit described as ‘catastrophic’ for animal welfare by @RSPCA_official
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 7/ See journal article for further discussion of threats
@Soph8K @JournoJane @DavidBowles21 @RSPCA_official @ciwf @ConservativeAWF 8/ See short blog article for discussion Brexit threats v relevant to current no-deal context
