23 Nov 2023 --- The European Parliament approved the EU-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) yesterday, marking the first time the EU has ratified a trade deal limiting market access based on animal welfare standards. The FTA is also the EU’s first to include binding commitments to the Paris Agreement and core International Labour Organization standards. Although the deal liberalizes trade in most animal-based products and will likely stimulate animal agriculture in the EU and New Zealand, the beef quota is restricted to grass-fed animals and explicitly excludes feedlots. This condition sets a precedent for animal welfare standards in EU trade policy and supports environmental sustainability.
