Give MPs the data on food standards

From: Michael Noble, Chair of Trustees, and Yorkshire West Methodist District; Rt Revd Dr John Thomson, Bishop of Selby, and Archbishop of York’s Ambassador for Rural Life & Faith; Revd Leslie Newton, Chair, Yorkshire North and East Methodist District; Fr Timothy Bywater, Diocese of Middlesbrough; Howard Petch, CBE, past principal of Bishop Burton Agricultural College; The Revd Canon Barry Pyke, Canon for Rural Engagement and Education, Ripon Cathedral.

AS the Trustees of the Yorkshire Churches Regional Business Support Charity, we care passionately that future food imports must meet the high standards of animal welfare and environmental protection to which British farmers produce.

These safeguards are not currently in place. When the Agriculture Bill returns to the House of Commons for its final reading, we need our MPs to show their support for safeguarding our standards through legislation.

MPs should be provided with a clear assessment of the impact that any trade deals will have on our food and farming standards.

The establishment of the Trade and Agriculture Commission earlier this summer was an important step in safeguarding our standards.

But more must be done to ensure MPs get independent advice on the impact of trade deals after they have been negotiated and to guarantee the democratic role of Parliament in scrutinising trade deals, as this will have a profound impact on the food on our plates for years to come.

This will ensure that any changes to our food and farming standards, which could fundamentally change the character of our agricultural trade and our high animal welfare, food safety and environmental standards, cannot happen without the explicit agreement of Parliament.