Key Facts

• Agriculture is a devolved matter in the UK.
• Each Administration will decide its own future policy on farm subsidies.
• A draft agreement commits to presenting regulations to four Agriculture Ministers for securing agreement.
• The amendment aims to balance responsibilities between the nations of the UK.
• Clauses 40 to 42 give Ministers power over devolved matters without reciprocal consultation requirements.
• An exchange of letters is not legally binding and relies on good faith.
• Amendment 32 would remove the role of the Secretary of State as final arbiter in dispute resolution.
• Amendment 33 aims to remove the requirement for providing information to the Secretary of State.
• Deidre Brock argues that Scotland should be able to make decisions independently without relying on UK Government compliance with international agreements.
• The UK is now fully independent under WTO rules post-Brexit.
• Clause 42 involves a decision-making process that includes all four nations of the UK.
• Amendment 33 would remove the Secretary of State's ability to make regulations for securing information necessary for international obligations.
• Deidre Brock presses her amendment to a vote, which is negatived.
• The amendments cover schedule 5 and clause 47, among others.
• Specific references to 'the National Assembly for Wales' are updated to 'Senedd Cymru'.
• Amendments 65 through 73 modify the basic payment scheme in relation to Wales.
• Amendment 95 makes Welsh Ministers responsible for provisions under clause 50 related to clauses 32(3) and (4).
• New Clause 1 would set a requirement for imported agricultural goods to meet animal welfare, environmental and food safety standards as high as those in UK.
• New Clause 4 requires the Secretary of State to prepare an annual register of UK production standards after IP completion day.
• New Clause 30 prohibits selling animals containing certain prohibited substances listed in Schedule.
• New clause 31 prohibits the sale of animals treated with substances other than potable water.
• New clause 32 sets a maximum stocking density of 33 kilograms per square meter for chicken rearing.
• Documentation must be maintained by keepers to ensure compliance with ventilation, heating, cooling systems specifications and ammonia and carbon dioxide concentration limits.
• Sir David Amess reminded Members to use constituency titles for other hon. Members during the debate.
• The reminder was given as a correction to previous statements made by Members.
• The previous Secretary of State stated that high environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards are already in law.
• EU-derived domestic legislation could potentially be changed by delegated powers in the Food Safety Act 1990 without parliamentary approval.
• Over 60 farming, environmental, animal welfare and food industry organisations have written to the Prime Minister calling for this safeguard.
• The US has no federal regulations in many areas where the UK has enacted detailed farm animal welfare regulations.
• 55% of pork meat and bacon consumed in the UK is imported from the EU, which follows high standards.
• Ractopamine, used in pig farming in the US for growth promotion, is illegal in the UK due to its detrimental effects on pig welfare.
• New clauses 30 to 32 propose banning products treated with substances illegal in the UK and prohibit post-slaughter washing methods like chlorine washing.
• The current Secretary of State did not include prohibitions against lower standard imports in either previous or current Bills.
• The US food sector has immense lobbying efforts and disinformation campaigns regarding animal welfare and food safety standards.
• Only about 13.5% of US beef is exported, mainly to Japan and the far east.
• The Government has committed to maintaining high standards post-Brexit.
• Victoria Prentis welcomes the opportunity to reiterate these commitments.
• The UK aims to have free trade agreements with many other countries.
• The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 converts all EU food safety, animal welfare, and environmental standards onto the UK statute book at the end of the transition period.
• Directive 96/22/EC bans hormone-treated beef imports and production within the UK through national legislation.
• Regulation 853 /2004 controls surface decontamination of poultry in the EU, which will be retained in UK law post-Brexit.
• The Government has published its negotiating objectives and explanatory material prior to starting negotiations with the EU and US.
• Domestic legislation already provides for a prohibition on the use of substances listed in new clause 30 and sets maximum residue limits.
• Setting maximum residue limits does not overturn legislative prohibitions on substance use as growth promoters.
• The Government prefers a non-legislative approach to setting maximum residue limits due to efficiency concerns.
• New clause 31 could restrict the potential for innovation in hygiene benefits.
• New clause 32 would prevent meat from conventionally reared chickens produced at densities above 39 kg per square metre from being sold in the UK, impacting imports and potentially causing food security issues.
• The Bill takes apart what the Secretary of State was trying to achieve, which is considered important.
• The WTO is currently a troubled organization with opportunities for challenges by other members.
• Smaller players are more vulnerable to spurious legal challenges compared to larger trading blocs.