Imported Agricultural Goods 2020-02-06
2020-02-06
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Member asks about the compliance of imported agricultural goods after the transition period and expresses concern over potential unfair competition from American agro-industrial practices.
What her policy is on the compliance of imported agricultural goods with UK (a) animal welfare, (b) environmental and (c) food safety standards after the transition period. Her constituents benefit from small-scale farmers in Northumberland and County Durham who would be devastated by competition from American agriculture with lower standards.
I can assure the hon. Member that we will not trade away our high standards of environmental protection, animal welfare or food safety. We will make sure that our trade negotiations work for our whole country, including the farmers she mentioned. I met farmers in Northumberland only a few days ago and had those very conversations.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The Member seeks cross-party support for putting commitments on high environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards into the Agriculture Bill.
On Monday, the Secretary of State heard that she had to put our high environmental standards into law to prevent US agriculture from undercutting them in any trade negotiations. Has she reflected on the fact that there is cross-party support for putting those promises into law and will she do the right thing?
As I have said, those commitments are already in law, and the Government will defend them in our trade negotiations. There is a cross-party consensus in this House that we value our high standards. We will continue with those high standards; we will not compromise them in trade negotiations.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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The Member seeks assurance that US imports will not compromise biosecurity or human health.
How will the Secretary of State ensure that ractopamine-treated pork and turkey meat from the United States stays out of our food chains?
As I have said, we will ensure that all food coming into this country meets our high sanitary and phytosanitary standards and our high standards of food safety. We will not under any circumstances compromise biosecurity or human health in our trade negotiations.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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The Member welcomes the commitment to high food, welfare and health standards but seeks update on plans for a food standards commission.
Can she update the House on what plans there are for a food standards commission, as requested by the National Farmers Union of Scotland?
I have discussed that with the National Farmers Union, and there is real merit in its proposal. We continue to consider it, but I can assure my hon. Friend and the House that, whatever the mechanism, we will engage very closely with farmers and other stakeholders as we take forward our trade negotiations.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
The Member seeks assurance that scrutiny opportunities will be provided for any effect of trade deals on food standards.
Can my right hon Friend put the House at ease and confirm that any trade agreement will have to be ratified under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and that this House will therefore have a full opportunity to scrutinise any effect of trade deals on our food standards?
I can; this House will be involved in scrutiny of our trade negotiations, and I look forward to having those debates with hon. Members.
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