Liberal Democrat Lords helped defeat the Government by backing a
cross-party amendment to the Trade Bill ensuring that future
trade agreements meet the UK’s high standards of animal welfare
and the environment.
The Conservatives have consistently failed to support such a
measure, risking that future trade deals could permit the import
of food that fails to meet the UK’s high standards. This puts
significant pressure on British farmers.
, Liberal
Democrat Spokesperson for Farming said:
“Farmers across the country are worried about their future -
they’re worried that the UK will be flooded with poor quality
food that undercuts the food they produce to high environmental
and animal welfare standards.
“The Conservatives have continually failed to protect our farmers
from these risks. This amendment will ensure that our farmers are
protected and can continue to produce high quality food for our
tables. That’s why Liberal Democrats in the Lords supported this
amendment.
“Liberal Democrats back British farmers and will continue to
fight to protect our food standards and their livelihoods.
British farmers have a vital role to play in helping us tackle
climate change and protect our natural environment, driving them
out of business will be damaging for everyone.
---ENDS ---
Notes to editors
Amendment 22 is a cross-party amendment establishing a code of
practice to ensure that as far as possible that future trade
agreements are consistent with United Kingdom levels of statutory
protection on human, animal or plant life or health; animal
welfare; the environment; food safety, quality, hygiene and
traceability; employment and labour standards; and human rights
and equalities.
The Amendment was passed by 290 to 274, a defeat for the
Government.
Full text of Amendment 22:
Insert the following new Clause—
“Standards affected by international trade agreements
(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations made by statutory
instrument establish a code of practice setting out how a
Minister of the Crown should take steps to maintain standards
established by any enactment regarding—
(a) food,
(b) animal welfare,
(c) the environment,
(d) human rights,
(e) welfare, and
(f) labour law,
if a proposed international trade agreement is likely to affect
such standards.
(2) A statutory instrument containing regulations under
subsection (1) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument
has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of
Parliament.
(3) The code under subsection (1) may provide that a Minister of
the Crown ensures as far as possible that a future trade
agreement is consistent with United Kingdom levels of statutory
protection regarding, among other things—
(a) human, animal or plant life or health;
(b) animal welfare;
(c) the environment;
(d) food safety, quality, hygiene and traceability;
(e) employment and labour standards; and
(f) human rights and equalities, including but not limited to—
(i) women’s rights,
(ii) child rights, and
(iii) the Human Rights Act 1998.
(4) This is in addition to and does not impact on the provisions
in section 42 of the Agriculture Act 2020 (reports relating to
free trade agreements).
(5) Where a Minister of the Crown decides that it is appropriate
and necessary to change standards in pursuit of an international
trade agreement, a Minister of the Crown must—
(a) send a notification of the necessary changes to primary or
subordinate legislation to the relevant Committee in each House
of Parliament at the earliest opportunity;
(b) consult and seek the consent of the devolved authorities; and
(c) take steps to ensure that necessary changes to primary or
subordinate legislation have completed their parliamentary
processes before the final texts of agreed trade agreements,
together with full impact assessments which cover the economic
impacts and social, environmental, and animal welfare aspects of
the agreement, in advance of such agreements being laid before
Parliament under section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and
Governance Act 2010.
(6) In this section, “United Kingdom levels of statutory
protection” means levels of protection provided for by or under
any—
(a) primary legislation,
(b) subordinate legislation, or
(c) retained direct EU legislation, which has effect in the
United Kingdom, or the part of the United Kingdom in which the
regulations have effect, on the date on which a draft of the
regulations is laid.”
