24 October 2023 , 17:26
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A Tory MP has warned "barbaric" foie gras imports must finally be outlawed - saying it could cause the next pandemic.
Giles Watling said the Government will appear "out of touch" if it doesn't act on the "luxury item", which is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese and harvesting their livers But in a tense Westminster debate a minister refused to commit to a ban - instead saying consumers have a "choice" not to buy it. This is despite the Tories promising to do so in 2019.
Mr Watling said most Brits are horrified at the "barbaric and cruel" way foie gras is made. The backbencher, who chairs the all-party Parliamentary group on animal welfare, told a Westminster debate: "We must be especially alert to the risks and not accelerate another pandemic."
He continued: "Foie gras is an expensive luxury item. By defending foie gras sales or not acting on the trade during times of spiralling financial hardship across the country I fear we appear to be totally out of touch with the British people."
The Government is under mounting pressure to outlaw the import of foie gras (Igualdad Animal | Animal Equality)"It's a low hanging fruit for the Government so we should move on it," he continued, adding: "Like the much desired ban on trophy hunting, which is a ridiculous sport, we should ban such imports."
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Although producing foie gras is illegal in the UK, importation is still allowed. Mr Watling said: "There have been many recorded instances of disease outbreaks in France and as we've seen with the bed bug issue we're not safe from disease and pests just because we've got the English Channel. The crowded conditions of these farms is a breeding ground for disease."
Fellow Tory MP Bob Stewart told the debate: "Ducks and geese are sentient animals, they have feelings. Imagine all of us stuck in a cage with someone opening our mouths and stuffing food down our throats. God how awful that would be.
"We've got to get rid of this stuff." But despite overwhelming calls for foie gras to be banned, the Government has backed down from making imports illegal.
Minister Rebecca Pow said: "Already we as consumers have the choice not to buy it. I myself wouldn't buy it or eat it." She said that ministers are collecting an "evidence base", looking at the actions of other countries have banned foie gras.
Members of campaign group Animal Equality UK - which has been campaigning for a ban - watched on as the discussion unfolded. It said: "Feeding tubes are brutally forced down the throats of birds in order to fatten them up. They are typically kept in tiny, unsanitary, cage-like facilities, unable to express even their most basic desires, such as spreading their wings.
"Their livers swell to 10 times the natural size, causing extraordinary pain."
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