Commission will help to safeguard food safety standards

AS the son of a hill farmer, I can assure Mick Johnston from Ebbertston and other readers of The Yorkshire Post that I will continue my strong record of standing up for local farmers in Westminster ( October 1).

I have raised the need to maintain high food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards with Ministers on many occasions, including several times of the floor of the House, and will continue to do so.

To correct a common misconception, the EU itself does not ban food products on the basis of standards. It does, however, ban certain products such a chlorinated chicken and hormone- raised beef on safety grounds. These restrictions will automatically be transferred into UK law when the transition period ends on December 31, 2020.

The EU stipulates minimum food standards in its trade deals and the UK will take a similar approach in its trade negotiations. As a result of the concerns raised by myself and many other MPs and the food and farming sector, the Government has established a Trade and Agriculture Commission which is to advise Ministers on how to seize new export opportunities whilst ensuring animal welfare and environmental standards in food production are not undermined.

The new commission includes representatives from farming sector, retailers and consumers from across the UK and will be chaired by Tim Smith, former head of the Food Standards Agency.

MinetteBatters, Presidentof NFUEngland, hasalsowelcomed thisapproach, describing itas a “hugelyimportantdevelopment in ensuringUK farming’s high standardsof animalwelfareand environmentalprotectionarenot undermined infuture tradedeals”.

I am sure readers will welcome this recent news that UK beef exports will recommence to the US after a 20- year moratorium. I know that this Government will stand firm in other trade negotiations to ensure any deals provide new opportunities for farmers and consumers.

From: Steve Taylor, Craypool Lane, Scothern, Lincoln.

ISN’T it ironic that the recent farmers tractor protest about potential food imports from America should so prominently feature American- made tractors? Farmers rightly want consumers to back British Farm produce – but perhaps they should look at the British industries which could be supported by them.