The UK government has agreed to set up an independent body to scrutinise the impact of its post-Brexit trade policy on local farmers.It has been a key demand from the UK farming unions for the past 18 months and was announced by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss in an open letter to National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters.
The UK government has agreed to set up an independent body to scrutinise the impact of its post-Brexit trade policy on local farmers.
It has been a key demand from the UK farming unions for the past 18 months and was announced by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss in an open letter to National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters.
Truss said that she will work with the farming unions to agree the exact terms of reference for the new body
Truss said that the new “Trade and Agriculture Commission” will consider policies that should be adopted in free trade agreements so that UK farmers do not face unfair competition or have their animal welfare and production standards undermined.
However, the letter states that the commission’s recommendations “should be advisory only”. Truss said that she will work with the farming unions to agree the exact terms of reference for the new body.
The move was widely welcomed by farmer representatives, but it was acknowledged that the announcement stops short of upholding food import standards through legislation.
“We have, and still are seeking to secure the introduction of legislation through the Parliamentary processes which would guarantee these safeguards,” said UFU president Ivor Ferguson.
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