Beef: Australia

(asked on 16th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the tariff reductions the Government agreed on the 15 June 2021 for Australian agricultural exports to the UK will apply to beef produced on farms that carry out the surgical removal of ovaries from cows without pain relief.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 21st June 2021

Maintaining the UK’s high domestic standards and including protections for the agriculture industry is a red line in trade negotiations. The manifesto states that in trade negotiations the Government will not compromise on high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. Imports will continue to meet the same UK food safety and biosecurity import standards as they did before.

More than 75% of Australian beef exports, and more than 70% sheep meat in 2020 were imported to Asia-Pacific markets, where the costs of beef production can be twice as high than the UK in some markets. It is unrealistic to think large volumes of beef and sheep will be diverted to the UK from those lucrative nearby markets.

The tariff reductions secured by the UK will benefit exporters across the country. By reducing tariffs, the Government are helping our farmers and food producers capitalise on the enormous global demand for British food and drink.

Reticulating Splines