Conservatives demand ‘fair deal’ on food safety
The Conservatives have today called for food safety to be bolstered by introducing a ban on the import of food that poses a risk to human or animal health.
This is just one of a string of measures demanded by the Opposition to ensure a ‘fair deal’ for consumers and producers.
Tim Yeo, Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary and David Lidington, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are also calling for greater honesty in labelling.
Mr Lidington said: ‘British consumers and producers deserve better from this Government. For too long now their interests have been ignored.’
The MPs note that the UK is importing meat from countries where Foot and Mouth disease is still prevalent and call on the Government to invoke Article 30 of the Treaty of Rome.
Under the Treaty countries can ban the import of meat and meat products on protection of human and animal health grounds.
Article XX of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs affords a similar protection, which the Conservatives also urge the Government to utilise.
Mr Yeo said: ‘Produce that puts consumers at risk should be stopped immediately. The law to do this already exists – all the Government need is the desire to put British consumers ahead of other interests.’
The Opposition has also called for ‘honesty in labelling’ arguing that misleading information means people often think they are consuming British produce when in fact it has been imported and labelled as British.
They highlight the importance of this for consumers who for religious, ethical or health reasons need to avoid certain ingredients or practices.
Further, the MPs point to well documented reports about the sale of imported meat and meat products not produced to domestic standards, such as the Panorama revelation that imports of chicken frequently contain remnants of pork and beef and may be as much as 50 per cent added water.
Mr Yeo said: ‘A fair deal is urgently needed for consumers and producers in Britain. For too long now this Government have ignored imports of food that pose a risk to human or animal health and misleading food labelling.’
‘Ridiculously, if a product is packaged or processed in Britain it can be labelled as British, even if the product comes from a different source country. This is misleading to consumers who may think they are supporting reputable British farmers.’
The final strand of their three-pronged approach calls for a push for animal welfare to be included in the next World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement.
Mr Lidington concluded: ‘Britain insists, rightly, that our farmers comply with the highest possible standards of animal welfare. They should not be penalised by losing business to imports from countries where cruel practices are still allowed. It is time for the Government to stop talking tough, and instead start acting tough.’
The call comes ahead of a new round of international trade negotiations, conducted through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which starts this year and is due to conclude in 2005.
