Concern remains over UK FTA with Australia
Following closer examination of the recent FTA with Australia, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is urging government to prioritise UK food standards in future trade deals.
The UK-Australian trade deal marked the new UK FTA with a partner without a pre-existing FTA in place with the EU, or a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU itself.
As part of the deal, Australia and the UK committed to providing “the most liberal possible treatment” for goods of interest to both countries, while taking into account product sensitivities. The UK government said at the time that the new deal would add £10.4 billion of additional trade while ending tariffs on all UK exports.
The CIEH expressed concern that the UK government is entering into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which will result in lowering food standards in the UK, potentially placing consumers at risk. The Institute also claims that the UK and Australia FTA will result in lowering food standards in the UK, potentially placing consumers at risk.
CIEH went on to summarise the recommendations of the International Trade Committee (ITC), which were published in July of this year. The Committee concluded that Australian food and drink exporters will not be required to meet UK core food production standards.
Welfare standards threatened
Head of policy and campaigns for CIEH Ross Matthewman said: “Despite consistent assurances from a string of Environmental Secretaries to the contrary, it appears that our concerns that food and animal welfare standards would be threatened in the pursuit of trade deals have been realised.
“The recent report from the International Trade Committee is yet another concerning confirmation that this government is embarking upon a course of action that will see the weakening of vital regulatory frameworks designed to maintain good public health.”
He also expressed his concern regarding the recently tabled Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, saying that legislation “threatens public health.”
Matthewman explained: “We have already expressed our concern that the recently tabled Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is a regressive deregulatory step that threatens public health and are concerned that as the government embarks upon future free-trade agreements, we will continue to see regulatory standards weakened.
“There are also serious questions about how importing cheaper food from the other side of the world impacts on the UK’s food security or sustainability, or how it helps the government meet its wider environmental pledges or commitment to achieving net-zero.”
He added: “We would urge the government to change course, to recognise the vital importance regulatory frameworks play in maintaining high standards of public health and would stress that the weakening of these standards in pursuit of free trade deals is not a price worth paying.”
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