Stevenson Seeks Assurances from DEFRA on Food Standards

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has written to the Conservative Secretary of State for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs seeking assurances that commitments given on food and environmental protections and animal welfare will not be compromised in pursuit of a trade deal with the USA.

In his letter to the UK Secretary of State, Mr Stevenson says:

“I note with some concern comment in the farming press regarding the above Bill and the lack of any commitment to maintaining current food and environmental standards.

“The issue of food standards post-Brexit, in particular, is an issue which has been raised with me on previous occasions by my farming constituents.

“I should be grateful if you would put an end to their uncertainty and let me have an assurance that animal welfare, food and environmental protections will not be diluted.”

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:

“Scotland’s farmers have had years of uncertainty from the Tories, coupled with contempt over the theft of their Convergence Funding. The big concern is that Tory Ministers have not put any of the commitments they gave during the election campaign into this Bill and it looks increasingly like the pursuit of a Trump trade deal will be at any cost.”