Just a day after BMPA warned that Defra’s proposals to phase out CO₂ stunning of pigs could threaten British food security, MPs have subjected the Minister responsible to a series of challenging questions over the scientific evidence and lack of meaningful industry engagement behind the plans.
Appearing before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee on Tuesday, Food Security Minister Stephen Morgan faced criticism from MPs who questioned why Defra had launched its consultation before establishing whether alternative stunning methods were genuinely viable.
Labour MP Josh Newbury highlighted what he described as “huge gaps in the evidence”, pointing to findings from the Animal Welfare Committee that raise questions about the welfare benefits of alternatives such as argon gas and automated electrical stunning.
He challenged Defra’s assertion that these alternatives were proven to be a good alternative to CO₂, arguing that a full, independently verified, industry-led trial should have been conducted before the consultation was launched.
Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael was equally direct, asking:
“You’ve published the consultation, but you’re consulting on stuff that you haven’t properly trialled. Is that not putting the cart before the horse?”
Questions were also raised about Defra’s engagement with the industry. Despite the Minister’s insistence that discussions had taken place, MPs highlighted concerns from industry representatives that their warnings appeared to have had little influence on the consultation proposals.
Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst challenged the practicalities of replacing CO₂, questioning the availability of alternative gases, the implications for food security and the feasibility of converting abattoirs within the proposed two-to-three-year transition period. He warned that disruption to processing capacity could create further animal welfare problems on farms.
The Minister maintained that the consultation was an opportunity to gather evidence and address industry concerns. However, this goes to the heart of BMPA’s criticism. Surely the necessary research and meaningful engagement with those operating commercial slaughter facilities should come before proposals to phase out an established method, not afterwards.
In our initial response to Defra’s consultation, BMPA made clear that improving animal welfare must remain a priority. But any proposed change must be supported by robust science, proven commercial alternatives and a full assessment of the consequences for British pig production and food security.
The EFRA Committee’s questioning has now brought many of those same concerns into sharp focus.
Read write-ups of the EFRA Committee hearing:
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