Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the proposals contained in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 to set a date for the assimilation or repeal of remaining retained EU law, if she will take steps to ensure that standards on the accepted use of contaminants on meat, such as chlorine, in the UK are maintained after that date.

Lactic acid on bovine carcases is the only chemical treatment permitted in abattoirs to reduce surface contamination. The conditions of use are set down in retained Commission Regulation (EU) No 101/2013. The use of chlorine wash is not permitted. The United Kingdom will continue to require high animal welfare and health standards on farms. Robust food hygiene practices are applied throughout the food production chain to ensure that no single measure is responsible for the safety of food. This requirement applies to both food produced domestically and for import into the UK.