In response to Parliamentary questions about banning imported pig meat not produced to UK standards and the feed cost crisis facing the industry, junior agriculture minister, Jonathan Shaw said: "The higher feed costs in the UK are due to global cereals price rises following two successive lower wheat harvests and increasing demand for cereals for food, feed and fuel purposes.

"The impact, in financial terms, will differ across the farming sectors, as explained in our recent report "Implications of rising agricultural commodity prices."

He added: "I am aware the pig industry has been particularly affected by increases in feed costs as feed makes up a significantly larger proportion of their total costs.

"The vast majority of pig meat imports into the UK are from EU countries and are, therefore, protected by single market legislation. There are very few areas in which UK law goes beyond the requirements of the EU minimum standards.

"The principal remaining difference between UK and other member states pig welfare standards regards the use of sow stalls, where UK-type restrictions will not apply across the EU until 2013. World Trade Organisation rules currently do not allow us to restrict trade on animal welfare grounds."