Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Earl Peel (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 23 May 2006.

Food: Imports

Question: My Lords, does the Minister not agree with me that the Government could do more to discourage the imports of food coming into this country, such as meat, which is produced at standards way below those imposed on our own farmers? Also, the current abuse by which food coming into the country is processed over here and labelled as being British should cease. Both those items would help considerably in boosting the hard-pressed rural economy.

Answer: My Lords, I take what the noble Earl says. Some third countries—that is, non-EU countries—have lower welfare standards than apply in the European Union. World Trade Organisation rules do not allow us to restrict trade in products solely on the basis of the method of production, but 90 per cent of our imports of bacon, ham and pork come from EU countries where, by and large, the same standards apply. In fact, as a result of market forces, there is evidence that supermarkets that source abroad now insist that animals are reared to the same high standards as in the United Kingdom.

Secondary information