MPs reject food standards bill for post-Brexit food standards

British MPs have rejected a bill that would enshrine domestic standards on imported food products in the case of a food trade deal emerging as a result of a no-deal Brexit.

The Food Agriculture Bill has been in limbo since January 1 and featured a House of Lords amendment to make sure any food imported as a result of trade deals would have to meet UK animal welfare and safety standards.

As reported yesterday, the main contender for deals with the UK in a post-Brexit world is the US, whose standards for food health-and-safety fall well below acceptable limits.

They have already had a heavy outbreak of salmonella and E. coli within livestock that has cause infection and a few scattered deaths.

Several prominent Tory backbenchers rebelled against the government to vote for the amendment, but they were too few to overcome the government's 80-seat majority and it fell by 332 votes to 279.

Richard Fuller, the Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, said the ruling would “stun many people outside who had placed much hope in the Trade and Agriculture Commission.”

Campaigners have warned the UK could be forced to accept lower standards to secure a trade deal with the US.

Farming Minister Victoria Prentis has asserted the government was "absolutely committed to high standards," and other ministers argued that making the standards legally-binding was unnecessary owing to their vow to keep imported food to a high standard.

The government worry that supporting this bill would only complicate the situation and it could obstruct our chances of recieving a deal.

The bill will now return to the House of Lords with the potential for further debate on the subject later in the week.

Mrs Prentis urged for "the fearmongering" to end.

She said: “We are not going to be importing chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-treated beef. That is the law of this land.

"This Government is not going to change it under any circumstances and we have said very clearly that in all our trade negotiations, we will not compromise our high environmental protection, animal welfare or food standards.”

Conservative MP John Lamont supported the government, saying "the amendments are not in the interests of food producers or standards and would be bad for trade."

Neil Parish, the Conservative MP heading the Common Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee lambasted the government for its decision.

He said: " Why are we not a great beacon of animal welfare and the environment as we negotiate these trade deals? We the British believe in agriculture, we believe in farming.”

Mr Parish urged the government to reconsider, stipulating that protecting food standards ins important, regardless of whether or not they are committed to ensuring quality food.

Luke Pollard, the shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary, said in a statement: “The Conservatives have again broken their promise to British farmers and the public. No one wants lower quality food on our plates, but there is an increasing risk that this could happen because the prime minister is refusing to show leadership.

"Labour will always back British farmers and it is a disgrace that the Tories won’t do the same.”

Conservative MPs Sir Roger Gale and George Freeman said they would support the bill, saying doing so keeps in line with the party's 2019 manifesto promises to ensure animal welfare.

The manifesto also promises a Brexit that will suit everyone.

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