Government ‘exploring further restrictions’ on foie gras

The government has confirmed it is “exploring further restrictions” around foie gras following reports in recent days that ministers were drafting legislation to ban imports.

The production of foie gras, which usually involves the force-feeding ducks and geese, was banned in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which made it a criminal offence not to provide for an animal’s welfare needs or to allow an animal to suffer unnecessarily.

Now that the UK has left the European Union, the government can take actions such as banning imports. The UK imports approximately 200 tonnes of the product each year.

A Defra spokesperson said: “The government has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns, and the practice is rightly banned in the UK. The government is considering the further steps it could take in relation to foie gras.”

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