Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy to maintain current food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary controls for (a) chlorinated chicken, (b) hormone enhanced beef and (c) genetically modified goods in the event of any future UK-US trade agreement.
Answered by George Eustice
Once we have left the EU, maintaining the UK’s high standards of food safety will remain a priority.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on food and farming exports in the event that the UK does not have tariff-free access to EU markets after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by George Eustice
Retaining tariff free access between the UK and the EU is a significant benefit to the food and farming sectors in both the UK and Europe. In 2015, the UK exported £7.5 billion of food to the EU, and imported £18 billion; for all agri-food and drink products this increases to £11 billion and £28 billion respectively. We aim to secure a mutually beneficial deal that delivers market access for the benefit of farmers and food manufacturers both in the UK and the EU.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on food prices for products sourced from EU countries.
Answered by George Eustice
Commodity prices, exchange rates and oil prices are known to be the most important drivers of retail food price inflation. It is too early to tell what, if any, impact leaving the EU might have on these factors.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to support food and drink supply chains through the Great campaign.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is working with the Department for International Trade to deliver a shared International Action Plan, launched in October, to drive exports of British food and drink. This will be supported by a campaign under the ‘Food is GREAT’ pillar to encourage UK producers, throughout the supply chain, to export more and to build global recognition of UK excellence in food and drink.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the application in the UK of standards under the REACH regulation on the sale of chemicals.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
As we start the process of leaving the EU, we will aim to deliver a stable and clear legislative framework for the continued effective management of chemicals, including maintaining standards that underpin trade and the protection of human health and the environment, and deliver on our international commitments.
Asked by: Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from the Government plan to attend the Montreal Protocol meetings in July 2016.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The UK Government delegation comprised two officials from Defra’s Environmental Quality Directorate and one official from the Department’s Team of the Government Legal Service.