The incoming president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is to sit on a new body which will advise the UK government on post-Brexit trade policy.

On Friday, the Department for International Trade announced that Victor Chestnutt will be on the Trade and Agriculture Commission along with the presidents of the other UK farming unions.

The body will consider policies that should be adopted in free trade agreements so that UK farmers do not face unfair competition or have their animal welfare and production standards undermined.

However, its recommendations will be advisory only.

Scope

“The scope of the Commission was agreed after close consultation between farming unions, the Department for International Trade and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,” a statement published on Friday reads.

“It will be set up for six months and submit an advisory report at the end of its work which will be presented to Parliament by the Department for International Trade,” it continued.

The commission will be chaired by food safety expert Tim Smith, a former chief executive of the Food Standards Agency and Tesco Group technical director.

“The UFU now have direct involvement in this Commission to ensure that the dedication of Northern Ireland’s farmers, who take pride in upholding the UK’s high-production standards and producing quality food for the nation, is not undermined in future trade deals,” said outgoing UFU president Ivor Ferguson.

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