Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison Thewliss and George Eustice

Thursday 17th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice]

As we leave the European Union and establish national control in these areas, of course it is possible that we can improve our legislation in a number of areas where EU regulations do not quite work.

[Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)]

The Codex Alimentarius sets the standards used by the World Trade Organisation. Reportedly, the UK hardly ever speaks up in defence of strong food safety labelling and marketing safeguards at those meetings. What confidence can we have that the UK Government will do so post Brexit?

[George Eustice]

I do not accept that caricature. Indeed, we worked very hard last year to ensure that a British official took the chairmanship of one of the important Codex committees dealing with food standards, and internationally we are always promoting animal welfare and food standards through organisations such as the OIE and Codex.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison Thewliss and George Eustice

Thursday 26th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)]

T6. Last month, the UK and Hong Kong issued a joint statement on trade collaboration, but there was no mention of food and drink. Is that a sign of things to come? Will the Minister enlighten the House on why the food and drink industry was left on the shelf?

[George Eustice]

No, the statement was not a sign of that at all. Indeed, there are very strong trading links in food and drink between the UK and Hong Kong, which is a major market for both British lamb and British beef.