Campaigners from the animal rights group, Animal Equality, hold placards depicting birds in cages an (Image: Getty)
Trade talks have blocked progress on Labour’s foie gras import ban, campaigners have warned.
A letter from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that while the Government recognises the “serious welfare concerns” surrounding the food’s production, it is unable to provide clarity on future action because of private discussions with international trade partners.
Article continues belowADVERTISEMENT
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Reform and Labour at war over nation's water crisis
Iceland blasts Rachel Reeves for making food more expensive for customers
Keir Starmer issued brutal 'red tape' warning over thousands of Brits in crisis
UK households paid to take bottles back to Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury's - no receipt needed
Peter Egan demand government acts to end animal cruelty abroad with advert ban
Fury over suggestion state pension age could be increased to 80
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Keir Starmer issues warning to Trump ahead of Putin peace talks
Kemi Badenoch wants asylum seekers in 'migrant camps' to end hotel crisis
I'm a Reform councillor at 18 - friends won't talk to me but it's worth it
Reform says small boat 'invasion' puts UK women and girls 'at risk of assault'
Labour peer calls for Clive of India statue to be torn down
Downing Street issues major Palestine Action update after 532 arrested
Labour has abandoned border control in favour of political convenience
Reform and Labour at war over nation's water crisis
Iceland blasts Rachel Reeves for making food more expensive for customers
Keir Starmer issued brutal 'red tape' warning over thousands of Brits in crisis
UK households paid to take bottles back to Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury's - no receipt needed
Peter Egan demand government acts to end animal cruelty abroad with advert ban
Fury over suggestion state pension age could be increased to 80
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Keir Starmer issues warning to Trump ahead of Putin peace talks
Kemi Badenoch wants asylum seekers in 'migrant camps' to end hotel crisis
I'm a Reform councillor at 18 - friends won't talk to me but it's worth it
Reform says small boat 'invasion' puts UK women and girls 'at risk of assault'
Labour peer calls for Clive of India statue to be torn down
Downing Street issues major Palestine Action update after 532 arrested
Labour has abandoned border control in favour of political convenience
Reform and Labour at war over nation's water crisis
Iceland blasts Rachel Reeves for making food more expensive for customers
Keir Starmer issued brutal 'red tape' warning over thousands of Brits in crisis
UK households paid to take bottles back to Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury's - no receipt needed
Peter Egan demand government acts to end animal cruelty abroad with advert ban
Fury over suggestion state pension age could be increased to 80
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Keir Starmer issues warning to Trump ahead of Putin peace talks
Kemi Badenoch wants asylum seekers in 'migrant camps' to end hotel crisis
I'm a Reform councillor at 18 - friends won't talk to me but it's worth it
Reform says small boat 'invasion' puts UK women and girls 'at risk of assault'
Labour peer calls for Clive of India statue to be torn down
Downing Street issues major Palestine Action update after 532 arrested
Labour has abandoned border control in favour of political convenience
The letter to a concerned member of the public said it is “too early to discuss this in greater detail”.
Abigail Penny, executive director of Animal Equality UK, said: “The Government made a public promise in the run up to the election to end the import of foie gras made by force-feeding, a product of immense animal cruelty. Surely officials are not willing to now trade away that promise behind closed doors? Britons want to see an end to this cruel product on our shores – the Government must represent its people, not cave in to vested interests from those overseas.
Read more: Labour under pressure to deliver on promise to ban foie gras imports
“Prioritising profit through trade deals over genuine animal protection is unacceptable to the British public, especially since nearly nine out of 10 are in favour of a ban. A halt on foie gras imports cannot be sacrificed at the negotiation table.”
Before the election the environment secretary Steve Reed said Labour would “ban the commercial import of foie gras, where ducks and geese are aggressively force-fed”.
Defra's letter also cited the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as a reason for the continued silence.
The SPS aims to streamline trade in agricultural and food products and forms part of Sir Keir Starmer’s broader EU-UK reset.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Keir Starmer issues warning to Trump ahead of Putin peace talks
Kemi Badenoch wants asylum seekers in 'migrant camps' to end hotel crisis
I'm a Reform councillor at 18 - friends won't talk to me but it's worth it
Reform says small boat 'invasion' puts UK women and girls 'at risk of assault'
Labour peer calls for Clive of India statue to be torn down
Downing Street issues major Palestine Action update after 532 arrested
Labour has abandoned border control in favour of political convenience
Reform and Labour at war over nation's water crisis
Iceland blasts Rachel Reeves for making food more expensive for customers
Keir Starmer issued brutal 'red tape' warning over thousands of Brits in crisis
UK households paid to take bottles back to Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury's - no receipt needed
Peter Egan demand government acts to end animal cruelty abroad with advert ban
Fury over suggestion state pension age could be increased to 80
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Keir Starmer issues warning to Trump ahead of Putin peace talks
Kemi Badenoch wants asylum seekers in 'migrant camps' to end hotel crisis
I'm a Reform councillor at 18 - friends won't talk to me but it's worth it
Reform says small boat 'invasion' puts UK women and girls 'at risk of assault'
Labour peer calls for Clive of India statue to be torn down
Downing Street issues major Palestine Action update after 532 arrested
Labour has abandoned border control in favour of political convenience
Reform and Labour at war over nation's water crisis
Iceland blasts Rachel Reeves for making food more expensive for customers
Keir Starmer issued brutal 'red tape' warning over thousands of Brits in crisis
UK households paid to take bottles back to Tesco, Asda, or Sainsbury's - no receipt needed
Peter Egan demand government acts to end animal cruelty abroad with advert ban
Fury over suggestion state pension age could be increased to 80
Rachel Reeves sparks more misery for Brits as food prices set to skyrocket again
Rachel Reeves told to launch massive tax raid on Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest
Migrant arrives in Labour's broken Britain every 11 minutes as small boat crossings soar
Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel
Nicola Sturgeon launches extraordinary attack on Nigel Farage: 'Odious!'
Sadiq Khan humiliated as 'buried' crime stats reveal true extent of lawless London
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed under Labour - 'scandalous!'
Foie gras is made by a process known as gavage, in which grain is poured into a funnel that has been forced down a bird’s neck. The process swells the animal’s liver to many times its normal size.
Trending
Defra said: “The government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns.
“Foie gras production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for 17 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation. As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers. It is too early to discuss this in greater detail at this point.”
Read Next
SUBSCRIBEInvalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy