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 his policy to ban the importation of American beef containing artificial growth hormones after the UK leaves the EU.

Any new trade deals must be right for UK consumers, businesses and farmers, and ensure food safety, environmental protection, and animal welfare standards.

The UK has transposed EU Council Directive 96/22/EC (as amended) into national law ‘Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits)(England and Scotland) Regulations 2015', with similar legislation for Wales and Northern Ireland, which prohibits the use of artificial growth hormones in both domestic production and imported products. This protection will continue after we exit the EU.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, published last week, will ensure that the UK exits the EU with certainty, continuity and control. The purpose of the Bill is to convert EU law into UK law as it applies in the UK at the moment of exit. This will apply to the laws and rules we have now, and will update references to EU Council Directive 96/22/EC in our national laws.

Our high environmental and food standards will not be diminished or diluted as a result of leaving the EU or establishing free trade deals with other countries.