MPs overturn bid to enshrine imported food standards in law

MPs have overturned a bid to require all food imports to meet minimum domestic standards from 1 January.

The amendment to the Agriculture Bill had been made by the House of Lords to enshrine a requirement for goods to meet UK welfare and food safety standards. It had been introduced as negotiations take place for post-Brexit trade deals, including with the US.

The changes proposed included giving MPs the right to veto sections of trade deals around food imports.

But the change was defeated by 332 to 279 after the government had insisted the amendment was unnecessary.

It said standards currently enshrined in EU rules, including a ban on chlorine-washed chicken, would be automatically written into British law when the post-Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

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