The Westminster Labour government must make clear that chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef will be excluded from a trade deal with the USA after failing to rule them out in a parliamentary answer.
Seamus Logan, MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East and the SNP’s rural affairs spokesperson, tabled a parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asking what the Westminster government’s policy is on the inclusion of American beef and chicken products being included in a trade deal with the USA.
The answer never even addressed the question nor even highlighted food standards. It simply just dealt in generalised aims with no mention of chicken or beef.
In a further parliamentary question Mr Logan asked the Secretary of State if he had made an assessment and commissioned analysis of the potential impact of a trade deal with the US on UK agriculture.
The answer was exactly the same as the one on American chicken and beef products.
Currently American chicken which is only washed with chlorine before being sold is banned in the UK as is beef from cows injected with hormones.
However, if those products are allowed to enter the UK they could undermine Scottish producers as well as lower food standards in the UK.
Already food poisoning incidents are increasing since Brexit and Donald Trump has indicated the UK must allow US chlorine-washed chicken into UK markets.
Commenting Seamus Logan MP said: “It is a matter of concern that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs cannot reiterate what is supposed to be their policy – that American chicken and beef products are subject to the UK’s food standards.
“It is equally worrying that he cannot even confirm he is undertaking an assessment and commissioned analysis of the potential impact of a trade deal with the US on UK agriculture.
“What is going on that makes the Secretary of State so shy about expressing his position on this issue that is vitally important to Scotland’s food producers?
“He should clearly state that the UK government has no intention of lowering food standards in the UK nor allowing chlorine-washed chicken or hormone-injected beef into the UK market.
“Scotland has stringent food safety standards protecting consumers and helping our producers of high-quality food and drink.
“A post-Brexit trade deal with Donald Trump would be a ‘huge threat’ to Scotland’s food safety and economy.
“Allowing chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef into the UK will undermine the value of quality Scottish produce, and the vital success of Scotland’s booming food and drink industry – hitting businesses and costing jobs.
“It would damage the livelihoods of Scottish farmers and crofters, and threaten the success of our booming food and drink industry.
“Scotland’s food sector is a huge success in Scotland’s economy; so the Westminster Labour government should firmly take the threat of chlorine-washed chicken and hormone injected beef off the table.
“The Westminster Labour government must commit unequivocally in its trade talks to maintaining the high standards in place and reject granting harmful concessions, including over hormone-treated beef.”
