Following reports that Canada will push for Britain to tear up a ban on hormone treated beef in trade talks this spring, SNP MPs have written to the UK government urging them not to concede to these demands.
SNP DEFRA spokesperson, Deidre Brock MP (pictured), and SNP Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Alyn Smith MP, have written to George Eustice and Anne Marie Trevelyan asking them to confirm they will not give in to requests to end import controls for lower standard products in upcoming trade deal negotiations.
Allowing the import of lower standard food not only threatens the health of UK consumers and increases the risk of anti-biotic resistant bacteria but also threatens to undermine the UK’s farming and food sectors.
Commenting, Deidre Brock MP said:
“Although the Tories refuse to admit it, their extreme Brexit is responsible for the extremely damaging loss of trade we’ve seen, and now they are racing ahead with a deal to join the CPTPP in the hope that it will make up for some of that damage.
“They risk making further bad decisions and concessions in trade negotiations that could see the ban on hormone treated beef scrapped, putting farmers’ livelihoods and consumers’ health at risk.
“We are already seeing our food standards and Scotland’s farming sector jeopardised since leaving the EU.
“It is of vital importance, to protect our farmers, food producers, and consumers, that no more ground is given on food standards in post-Brexit trade deals.
“Westminster’s reckless approach to trade deals, while imposing their damaging hard-Brexit on Scotland, shows exactly why Scotland needs the full powers of independence.
“Scotland’s economy and its industries will forever be an afterthought for the Westminster government.”
