MPs have told the Government to accept an amendment to the Agriculture Bill which stipulates that food products imported as part of any trade deal should meet or exceed British standards.
The Government has been told by MPs to “put its money where its mouth is” over future trade deals, and ensure British food standards do not slip.
The United Kingdom currently has exceptionally high environmental and food standards, and an internationally recognised approach to animal welfare.
But MPs warn that this “legacy” cannot be ripped apart by the introduction of cheap, low-quality goods following Brexit.
In a new report released on Tuesday (27 November), MPs in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) warn that any future trade deal should meet or exceed British standards relating to production, animal welfare and the environment.
Given the importance of the Agriculture Bill in shaping UK agriculture in the future, the Committee expressed disappointment that it was not given the chance to scrutinise the Bill pre-legislatively. EFRA called this an “unsatisfactory precedent”.
'Real threat'
Neil Parish MP, the Chair of EFRA, said imports produced to lower standards than the UK's pose a “very real threat” to UK agriculture.
He said: “Without sufficient safeguards we could see British farmers significantly undermined while turning a blind eye to environmental degradation and poor animal welfare standards abroad.
“Our suggested amendment calls for agricultural goods to be imported into the UK only if the standards to which those goods were produced are as high as, or higher than, current UK standards.
“We are also concerned by the extent to which powers have been delegated. This Bill lacks clarity and gives any future Secretary of State the opportunity to avoid scrutiny and make crucial decisions while going somewhat unchallenged.”
Mr Parish said: “We would like to see sufficient opportunities for parliamentary scrutiny before any new systems or policies are rolled out.
“Given the fundamental changes ahead of us, we would also like to see the Government provide us with a detailed timetable for its programme of Statutory Instruments relating to this Bill,” he added.
'Three key areas'
EFRA's inquiry was launched alongside the Agriculture Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons in September 2018.
It examines the provisions that will be needed in the agricultural industry following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
Due to the inquiry running parallel to the Bill, the Committee focused on three key areas of the Bill, including future trade deals.
The other two key areas prioritised by the report are the transition from the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to a new system based on public money for public goods and fairness in the supply chain
The Committee recommended that there should be a multiannual financial framework to provide a long-term commitment to agriculture.
The MPs also concluded that the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) should oversee the proposed fair dealing obligations for first purchasers of agricultural products, rather than the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
