Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the changes required in (a) domestic standards, (b) international standards and (c) domestic legislation once the UK has left the EU to provide for the mandatory labelling of the (i) origin and (ii) methods of production and processing of imported meat and dairy ingredients in (A) fresh, (B) processed and (C) pre-prepared products sold in the UK.

The Government is proud of our high standards of food safety and these will not be watered down when we leave the EU. We will keep our existing UK legislation, and the EU Withdrawal Bill will convert EU law into UK law as it applies once we have left the EU.

This means that origin labelling for foods will be required where the consumer would be misled if it were not given. In addition, the rules for compulsory origin labelling of beef, veal, lamb, mutton, pork, goat and poultry meat, fish and shellfish, honey, olive oil, wine and most fruit and vegetables will be in place. The majority of meat and dairy products sold at retail have transparent origin labelling provided voluntarily for the meat or dairy ingredients, and we continue to support the voluntary principles on country of origin labelling.

Method of production labelling is not required for food although some producers provide it on a voluntary basis. If it is provided it must be accurate and must not mislead the consumer: the Government has no plans to change this once we leave the EU.

When we leave the EU, there will be an opportunity to review labelling requirements for all foods, to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of quality and transparency for consumers and take the greatest opportunities for marketing our great British food across the world.