Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the use of unenriched cages in Australia; what assessment she has made of whether the use of such cases complies with British standards; whether imports of those egg products will be given zero-tariff imports under a free trade agreement; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
This agreement does not create new permissions for imports from Australia. All agri-food products imported into the UK – including into Scotland – under existing or future free trade agreements will, as now, have to comply with the UK’s import requirements.
As the Government has stated in its manifesto, the UK will not compromise on high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards in any trade negotiations.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has plans to ban the (a) importation and (b) sale of foie gras produced from the force-feeding of ducks and geese following the UK's departure from the EU; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government has made clear that force feeding for the production of foie gras from ducks or geese raises serious welfare concerns.
Production is banned in the UK as it is incompatible with domestic legislation, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it a criminal offence not to provide for an animal's welfare needs and to allow an animal to suffer unnecessarily.
The Government is committed to upholding our high standards. Now our relationship with the European Union has been established, the Government is considering further steps it could take in relation to foie gras.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has for recognising protected food names in future trade agreements after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government’s objective in any trade negotiations will be to support the best possible outcome for the UK economy as a whole.
The EU withdrawal bill will transfer into domestic law the EU schemes that currently protect our Geographic Indications (GIs).
Future protection for current UK GIs in EU Member States, and for GIs in the UK, is subject to negotiations with the EU.
Some of the GI designations that the UK has, for instance protecting Scotch whisky in the US, are governed by agreements outside the EU Protected Food Name Scheme.
Asked by: Lisa Cameron (Conservative - East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of trade negotiations that will be required after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands
The final financial implications of negotiating new trade deals will depend on policy decisions yet to be taken. The Department will continue to invest the necessary resources to develop the policy and legislative plans for new trade deals alongside its wider preparations for EU Exit.