RSCPA's Future of Food and Farming

Thank you to everyone who contacted me about farmed animal welfare.

I support strong animal welfare for farmed animals, where animals experience not just a life worth living but a good life throughout all life stages. Our nation cares deeply for animals and has a long and proud history of supporting animal welfare. The UK is rightly proud of the high animal welfare standards which underpin British produce, and I am committed to helping our Government deliver the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation.

I strongly support our Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December. This strategy sets out our Government’s targets for farmed animals, including working with farmers and vets to improve the health and welfare of livestock.

I specifically welcome pledges to phase out the use of enriched cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs. With hens, I am proud the sector has already moved towards free range and barn systems, with support from Government grants and pledges from major retailers. As we move forward, I know Defra is committed to working with the sector to move towards cage-free systems for all laying hens. Our Government’s consultation on this subject closed in March 2026 and I know our Government is analysing the responses. I am encouraged our Government has committed to work with the sector to move all sows out of farrowing crates over a sustainable transition period and will undertake a consultation on next steps.

I also welcome our Government commitment to work with stakeholders to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could support farmers to promote better animal welfare and to provide greater transparency for consumers.

As you may be aware, our Government held a consultation on fairer food labelling. I understand the consultation – which showed a clear majority of the public and stakeholders would support clearer food information on welfare standards – will help inform Defra’s work on food labelling.

I strongly support a ban on the use of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) stunning of pigs. There is a pressing need to address the welfare issues associated with the use of high concentration CO2 gas for stunning pigs. Our Government will consult publicly on this and details will be published later this year.