Tough animal welfare rules may lead to pork shortage

Shortages of pork across the EU and substantial price increases are predicted, due to tougher animal welfare regulations due next January.

Germany and Spain are the top two producers, and the Ancoporc traders association in Spain said estimates of a 5% to 10% drop in pig numbers are “very reasonable”. A spokesman for the German Farmers’ Association has predicted the EU could become a net importer of pork.

Stewart Houston, chairman of the UK’s BPEX pig farming group, said the new welfare regulations would lead to a fall of 5% to 10% in EU pork production.