British Poultry Council welcomes Government’s commitment to UK poultry standards in UK-US trade deal.

The British Poultry Council welcomes news that poultry will not be included in a UK-US trade agreement.

BPC Chief Executive, Richard Griffiths, called the move “a clear signal that Government backs our standards and the values that underpin them.”

Mr Griffiths said: “This is the right call made for the right reason. It is good to see Government standing firm on British food standards. Excluding chicken from a UK-US trade deal demonstrates a commitment to the responsibility and transparency that defines British poultry meat production.”

British poultry meat production is a cornerstone of UK food security: unsubsidised, market-driven, and underpinned by decades of investment in animal welfare, food safety, traceability, and stewardship.

That investment has done more than raise our standards. It has driven productivity, fuelled growth, and built a food system the public trust and value.

“We are proud of how we produce poultry in this country. Today’s decision sends a message that what we produce and how we produce it matters.” 

The British Poultry Council urges Government to build on this decision by continuing to champion British food standards across all areas, including ongoing talks with the European Union to secure an SPS Agreement.

“The Government has made the right decision today by putting standards front and centre. Now is the time to lean into that integrity. If we want to make trade work with other partners too, including the EU, then we must stand by the values that built trust in the first place.”