Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Daniel Zeichner and George Hollingbery

Thursday 15th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)]

5. Whether food and agricultural imports will have to meet the same (a) food safety and (b) sanitary and phytosanitary standards as domestic products under new free trade agreements after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Minister for Trade Policy (George Hollingbery)]

The Government have been clear that future imports to the UK must meet UK food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards. We will not compromise our standards in pursuit of a trade agreement.

[Daniel Zeichner]

The Minister knows full well that UK consumers expect safe, high-quality food. The Secretary of State has assured us that he has 40 trade deals ready to go at the drop of a hat. Can the Minister tell us how many of those trade deals embed the exact same high food standards?

[George Hollingbery]

The 40 deals to which the hon. Gentleman refers are, of course, the deals that the EU currently has with partners. Our ambition is to transition those trade deals exactly as they are—or at least as closely as possible—and they contain the current measures.