Without policy in place to stop trade deals with countries that produce food below UK standards, there is a huge risk of cheap imports flooding the market, Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) president Victor Chestnutt has said.

The comments followed MPs rejection of the Lord Curry amendment to the UK Agriculture Bill.

The UFU has said the amendment would have ensured that all imports would have to meet UK animal welfare and environmental standards, and the recent rejection is a huge blow for UK agriculture and consumers

Missed opportunity

Chestnutt said: "While we recognise the government's repeated commitment that it will not lower food safety standards, last night’s vote in the House of Commons was a missed opportunity that has ultimately put the future of UK food and farming in jeopardy.

“We could see no reason to forego a stronger, clearer and more coherent role for MPs in the agreement of trade deals in a way that would not hinder the Government's ability to negotiate new trade agreements and pursue an independent trade policy.”

Next sitting

With the Agriculture Bill due to return to the House of Lords, the UFU president hopes a new amendment is put forward that gives farm representatives more input.

Chestnutt concluded that he hoped a vote can be passed at the next sitting in support of putting official legislation in place to coincide with UK animal welfare and environmental standards.

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