The British government will probably not ban the import of foie gras and fur into the United Kingdom. The decision comes as the UK is negotiating a new trade deal with the European Union (EU).
Before the last election in 2024, the Labour Party promised to ban foie gras imports.
The government already left the foie gras ban out of its animal welfare plan, which was published in December.
And now officials say the EU made the ban a red line in trade negotiations. The EU told the UK that banning these products would be a problem for trade talks. The UK government decided to leave the ban out to make negotiations with the EU smoother.
Foie gras and fur
Foie gras is a food product made from the liver of a duck or goose. The animals are force-fed large amounts of food through a tube to make their livers grow much larger than normal.
Because of its cruelty, producing foie gras has been illegal in the UK since 2006, but it can still be imported and sold in shops and restaurants.
Fur farming has also been banned in the UK since 2000. However, fur products made in other countries can still be imported and sold.
The government asked the public about a fur import ban. 97% of respondents said it was wrong to kill animals for fur, and most wanted a ban. Despite this, the government did not commit to one. Instead, it announced a working group to study the issue further.
Animal welfare organisations say they are disappointed with the decision. They argue that the UK should use its freedom outside the EU to set higher standards for animal welfare, not lower ones.
The EU does not allow its member countries to ban each other’s products on animal welfare grounds. Since leaving the EU, the UK has had the legal freedom to restrict these imports, but has not done so.
The new UK-EU trade agreement is expected to be completed later this year.
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