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Farmers and food activists were defeated Monday night in their attempts to enshrine high food safety and animal welfare practices in British law.
Several prominent Conservative MPs rebelled against the government to vote for amendments to the agriculture bill that would have given the rules legal status, but the rebels were too few to surpass the 80-seat majority in government and the key amendment fell by 332 votes in favor. 279 after an often passionate debate.
The government argued that giving the current rules legal status was unnecessary as ministers had already committed to ensuring that UK food standards were upheld in any post-Brexit trade deal. However, critics fear that the lack of a legally binding commitment in the farm bill will allow future imports of substandard food that will undermine British products and expose consumers to risks.
Kath Dalmeny, President of the Future British Standards Coalition, said: “It is disheartening that the government has opposed attempts to enact its own commitment to uphold British food standards. It is perfectly possible to have high standards at home and to sign business agreements with new business partners who meet them. It’s what consumers have repeatedly said they want. “
The bill, with its amendments rejected, will now return to the House of Lords and there will be more opportunities for debate this week. But most of the government gives proponents of a tougher bill a high bar to beat, despite a recent YouGov poll that showed nine out of 10 people want to protect British standards on food and animal welfare in trade agreements.
Katie White, WWF executive director of advocacy and campaigns, said: “We hope the Lords will take this public mandate to fulfill the Conservative manifesto’s commitment to maintaining standards, especially after it was significantly endorsed by Conservative MPs. We call on peers to ensure assurances that the public and parliamentarians are informed in advance of any changes in standards that may occur as a result of trade agreements, and that the final word on any changes will be a decision of our representatives. elected “.
The votes came when a Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 revealed the lack of hygiene and welfare among cattle on intensive farms in the U.S. Although the government has given repeated assurances that chlorinated chicken and beef injected with hormones would not be imported into the UK under any trade agreement, activists note that the ban on these two products would still allow the import of many types of other foods produced under conditions and conditions. with drugs, including antibiotics, which would be illegal in the UK.
Luke Pollard, the shadow secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, said: “The Conservatives have again broken their promise to British farmers and the public. Nobody wants lower quality food on our plates, but there is a growing risk of this happening because the prime minister refuses to show leadership. Labor will always back British farmers and it’s a shame the Conservatives don’t do the same. “
Neil Parish, Conservative MP and Chairman of the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, delivered an impassioned speech. “Why are we not a great beacon of animal welfare and the environment as we negotiate these trade agreements?” he asked, asking that the government have the “armor” of legal status by standards. “We British believe in agriculture, we believe in agriculture.”
Sir Roger Gale, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, George Freeman, and several others joined Parish.
On Tuesday, the fisheries bill will also go back to the deputies. Marine activists want stronger commitments from the government that future fishing quotas will be set in accordance with scientific advice.
Ministers insist they will ensure future fishing limits are within “maximum sustainable yield,” but that establishing such a compromise in law would tie the hands of negotiators in long-awaited annual talks with the EU and other countries on fishing grounds. shared.
The government is also resisting calls to require fishing vessels to carry monitoring equipment, to make sure they are landing their catches in accordance with the rules, and to end destructive fishing practices such as “bottom trawling. ”In marine protected areas.
