Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Pesticide Action Network UK Toxic Trade: How joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) threatens to weaken UK pesticide standards, published on 7 June; and what assessment they have made of the YouGov polling referenced in that report which found that more than two thirds of respondents were concerned about negative impacts to the environment and human health resulting from a lowering of UK pesticide standards as a result of joining the CPTPP.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership protects the right for members to regulate on public policy issues such as environmental standards. This includes setting regulations on pesticides. The Government will continue to ensure that its own levels of protection are based on appropriate scientific risk assessment with the protection of people and the environment being of greatest importance. The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections and will not compromise on them. The Government has ensured in law that existing standards will remain in place, and is clear that trade does not have to come at the expense of the environment.