Government should formally commit to upholding animal welfare and environmental standards in post-Brexit trade deals, according to a cross-party committee of MPs.
The call was made in a report on the free-trade agreement with Australia by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee.
It argued that upfront commitments to standards on issues such as deforestation and hormone growth promoters would strengthen the hand of UK negotiators.
It would also reassure UK producers of the government’s commitment to high environmental and animal welfare standards, Efra said.
See also: UK food self sufficiency and sustainability possible
The MPs added that they were disappointed the Australia deal did not include more far-reaching provisions on animal welfare. This would have demonstrated greater international leadership by the UK, the committee said.
Efra also criticised the government for failing to consult British farmers before negotiations went ahead.
“Government should pay more attention to the voices of UK farmers when negotiating trade deals and consult their expertise before arrangements became a fait accompli,” the report said.
“Making sure the government’s independent trade advisory bodies are brought in from the outset would allow it to take advantage of sector knowledge while negotiating deals,” it added.
Export funding
Committee members also urged the government to support British farming, which would lose out when cheaper Australian food was imported.
The report noted that, although there was a phased lifting of tariffs on Australian food, after 15 years there would be no limit on imports.
The government estimates that the Australia free-trade agreement will cost UK farming about £278m, it said.
To make up for the lost domestic trade, the Efra committee called on the government to support farming by allocating additional funding to boost exports.
The committee added that the government must monitor the impact on the sector closely over time, and develop plans to intervene should this be necessary.
New Efra chairman Sir Robert Goodwill pledged to hold the government to account on the impact of the trade deal.
“The government must commit to helping the food and farming sector win back the £278m worth of lost growth it will experience because of this deal,” Sir Robert said.
He welcomed a plan to appoint new trade envoys to push exports. “But we also need to see the government commit to – and deliver on – the £278m target for additional exports to ensure the sector is no worse off.
“We also want our high UK animal welfare and environmental standards baked into every trade deal we do from now on,” Sir Robert said.
“It’s all part of the government needing to listen more carefully to our farmers and food producers. They have the expertise to help us get better deals all round – let’s use it.”
