Supplementary memorandum submitted by
BPEX Ltd (Pigs 06b)
IMPORTS OF PORK AND PORK PRODUCTS PRODUCED
TO UK LEGAL WELFARE STANDARDS
BACKGROUND
1. The United Kingdom introduced unilateral
legislation in 1999 banning the use of stalls for pregnant sows.
This legislation does not exist in other EU countries (with the
exception of Sweden). However, there are a number of countries
where producers have responded to market demand in the UK for
higher welfare pork and pork products and produce pigs under commercial
contracts at standards equivalent to UK legal requirements regarding
sow welfare.
2. These contracts are not equivalent to
UK Assurance standards due to the practice of castration (including
Sweden) which, while legal in the UK is not allowed under UK Assurance
rules.
3. BPEX has made an assessment of the overall
volume of imports that are produced under "UK contracts".
Reports were published in 2006 and 2007. The analysis has now
been updated using market research conducted in mid-2008 and applied
to 2007 import data. The conclusion of the analysis remains that
nearly 70% of the pork and pork products imported into the UK
in 2007 would be illegal to produce in this country on the grounds
of pig welfare.
METHODOLOGY
Step 1
4. Detailed import data is provided by Global
Trade Atlas (an official agent for UK government trade statistics).
This data shows import volumes by country and by detailed product
type (for example chilled loins or bacon). The latest analysis
data for January-December 2007 has been used. This shows that
a total of 816,000 tonnes of pork, bacon and ham was imported
with more than 60% coming from the Netherlands and Denmark.
Step 2
5. The volume imports by product and country
are converted into "pig equivalents" using information
from industry sources. So, for example, imports of bacon from
Denmark total 97,910 tonnes. Industry sources estimate that 80%
of this total is bacon backs for slicing and packing in the UK.
The average weight of bacon back is 5.5kg and there are two backs
per carcase. We therefore estimate that the number of pigs required
in Denmark to produce bacon back imports in 2007 was 7.12 million
head (97,910 x 0.80 ÷ 11kg).
6. The remaining 20% of bacon imports will
be predominantly streaky bacon and gammons. The same calculation
is done to reach the number of pig equivalents. However, if the
number of pig equivalents in the bacon back calculation is higher
than for streaky bacon and gammons it is assumed that these cuts
all come from the same pig. Therefore, the back bacon pig equivalent
figure is the only one carried forward into the rest of the calculation.
7. Trade data for other cuts of pork is
analysed using the same methodology. Again using Denmark as an
example we also import bone-in and boneless loins of chilled pork.
These are converted to pig equivalents and added to the bacon
figure to give a total pig equivalent import requirement from
Denmark of 9.236 million head.
8. The process illustrated above is repeated
for all countries that supply pork and pork products to the UK.
Step 3
9. Research is conducted in each supplying
country to assess the total number of pigs produced under a "UK
contract" or to a "UK welfare specification" if
no formal contract exists. In most cases companies or representative
organisations have been very co-operative. Again if we use Denmark
as the example the Danish Bacon and Meat Council have supplied
information that states that the number of "UK contract"
pigs produced in Denmark are between 50,000-55,000 a week. Taking
the mid point of 52,500 and a 50 week production year this gives
an annual total of 2.625 million head a year. The same process
is repeated for all countries that supply pork and pork products
to the UK.
Step 4
10. A comparison is made of the total pig
equivalent import requirement into the UK (by aggregating the
data from Step 2) and the total estimated "UK contract"
or "UK welfare specification" pigs produced in supplying
countries (by aggregating the data from Step 3). In 2007 the number
of pigs being produced under "UK contracts" or "UK
welfare specifications" was estimated to be only 33.8% of
the total import requirement. Therefore, the claim that nearly
70% of imports would be illegal to produce in the UK on the grounds
of pig welfare is justified.
Sensitivity of Analysis
11. The accuracy and sensitivity of the
analysis depends on the quality of the data.
From official sources and assumed to be as accurate
as possible.
From a variety of trade sources and assumed to
be reasonably accurate. A cautious approach has been taken especially
assuming that, where relevant, cuts come from the same carcase.
— UK Contract/UK Welfare Specification
Production
From authoritative sources in Denmark and the
Netherlands which together account for more than 60% of imports.
The addition of authoritative sources in Ireland and Germany improves
the coverage to over 80% of total imports.
Legal Position
12. It is worth pointing out that importers
are not acting illegally by taking pork and pork products from
other EU countries that do not apply UK welfare standards. The
fact that the UK chose to introduce higher standards of welfare
cannot be used as a barrier to trade within the EU.
How to Change the Situation
13. Many importers claim quite rightly that
they have reacted to customer demand in the UK with the introduction
of UK contracts. The reason that they have not increased the number
of pigs produced under these contracts is the failure of UK retailers,
food service companies and public sector buyers to explicitly
specify that they want to purchase to a standard that is equivalent
to UK minimum legal standards with respect to pig welfare.
M J Sloyan
November 2008
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