MPs to question standards of imported food in future trade deals in EFRA select committee

The EFRA Select Committee is to hear evidence about food production standards in order to scrutinise the government’s claims it will not compromise on high standards of food safety and animal welfare in future trade agreements. 
Areas likely to be considered include consideration of production standards under the WTO and GATT, the extent to which international standards currently compare to the UK’s, the efficacy of tariffs, the impact on food security, and the impact of policy changes on both farmers and consumers.  
The EFRA Select Committee is to take evidence from senior representatives from the agriculture, animal welfare and trade sectors.
This one-off evidence session follows the EFRA Committee’s previous inquiry, Scrutiny of The Agriculture Bill, which led to a cross party amendment ensuring that food products imported as part of any future trade deal meet or exceed British standards relating to production, animal welfare and the environment.  
 Neil Parish, Chair of the EFRA Committee, said: “As the Government enters crucial trade negotiations with countries across the globe, it’s imperative that UK consumers and food producers have the right protections in place. With the Agriculture Bill making its way through Parliament, the EFRA Committee is committed to urgently finding a solution which will reassure the public and our farmers.”
The committee will hear from the following witnesses on 11 March: Emily Rees, Managing Director, Trade Strategies, James West, Senior Policy Manager, Compassion in World Farming, Nick von Westenholz, Director of EU Exit and International Trade, National Farmers’ Union.