The NFU is urging politicians to put their words into actions and
give Parliament a say on how future trade deals impact British
food and farming.
Today [9 September] is Back
British Farming day and the NFU has published
a
new report
that showcases the high
standards British farmers produce to, and how they set themselves
apart from the rest of the
world.
With the Trade Bill being
debated in the House of Lords this week, the NFU is calling for
Peers to amend the Bill so that Parliament will be given the
final say on whether to ratify new trade agreements. Currently,
there is no requirement for Parliament to debate trade deals
before they are signed into law and safeguards to allow MPs to
reject such trade deals are
limited.
The NFU also wants Parliament
to be provided with independent advice about the impact every
trade deal will have on our food and farming standards before it
decides whether to accept or reject those trade deals. An
amendment to the Agriculture Bill, put forward by Lord Curry in
the House of Lords, would give this duty to the new Trade and
Agriculture Commission, which was set up by the government in
July. The Amendment is likely to be debated by the House of Lords
next week and the NFU is urging Peers to vote in its
favour.
NFU President Minette Batters
said: “We are at a pivotal time for the future of farming and the
food on our plates. Nothing will determine this more than how the
government shapes trade deals with countries around the
world.
“There is no doubt that the
countries we are currently negotiating with are demanding access
to our prized market for their agriculture products and, right
now, a trade agreement could be signed with little parliamentary
scrutiny. This could result in a massive increase in the amount
of food being imported that is produced in ways that would be
illegal in this
country.
“Politicians have time and
time again stated that they will not allow this to happen. There
is now a clear solution on the table that will allow Parliament
to be kept fully informed of the impacts any trade deal will have
on the food we all consume. Time is running out. Action has to be
taken now or all the warm words will be for
nothing.
“Today is Back British
Farming day and we want to celebrate why the British public have
complete trust in British food and the farmers that produce it.
Our farm to fork approach to traceability, how we look after our
animals and our environment, and how we lead the world in
reducing antibiotic usage are all the envy of the world and yet
they are in jeopardy if they are undermined by future trade
deals.
“I would urge all politicians
to use today to think about these values, and what we have to
lose. I would ask them to set British farming as the global
standard in sustainable, climate-friendly food production, and
not undermine it in the pursuit of free trade. I would urge peers
in the House of Lords to vote for this amendment next week, to
amend the Trade Bill to increase Parliamentary scrutiny of trade
deals and take a great step towards providing the proper
parliamentary oversight of our future trade
policy.”
-ends-
Notes to
editor:
-
The new report ‘British Farming:
Setting the Standard’ can be
found here.
-
The Royal Academy of Culinary
Arts and top chefs such as Raymond Blanc, John Williams, Chris
Galvin and
Cyrus
Todiwala
are also supporting the NFU’s
Back British Farming day because of the importance they place
on being able to use quality British produce in their
cooking.
