UK industry calls for livestock strategy to match EU ambition
Brussels backs €400bn sector with food security and competitiveness plan
10 July 2026
1 minute read
By: The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has called on the UK government to adopt a supportive approach to its livestock sector after the European Commission published its new Livestock Strategy this week. The strategy positions farming as a strategic asset central to food security and economic resilience.
Accompanied by a Protein Strategy, which aims to reduce dependence on imported feed, the Livestock Strategy sets out a long-term vision covering competitiveness, innovation, animal welfare and international market promotion. The European Commission describes the sector as essential to strategic autonomy, noting it supports around seven million jobs and contributes approximately €400 billion annually to the European economy.
The BMPA noted that while the UK is no longer part of the EU, Europe remains its largest export market for many livestock products, and regulatory changes in Brussels carry consequences beyond the bloc's borders.
One development the BMPA flagged as particularly significant for pig producers is the Commission's confirmation that new animal welfare legislation for pigs will be brought forward next year. Imported products will be required to meet equivalent standards, meaning UK pig meat exporters will be watching the proposals closely. If changes to CO₂ stunning rules are included, as some in the industry anticipate, the implications for processors on both sides of the Channel could be substantial.
The BMPA said the strategy's broader tone marked a shift from years in which European livestock policy had been viewed primarily through an environmental lens, and called for a similar vision to be adopted for UK livestock.
