Stephen Kinnock suggested the Coronavirus epidemic has shown “global Britain” will face more safety risks because of European Union standards on food no longer applying to the UK after December 2020. Boris Johnson pledged to secure strong commercial ties with new non-EU partners including the United States and China after Brexit but the Labour MP warned the lack of agri-food standards in these countries could put Britain at risk. But pro-Brexit campaigner Mr Grimes branded Mr Kinnock as “disingenuous” and insisted Brexit will not push the UK to change the quality of its regulation to secure trade deals outside of the EU.

Mr Grimes said: “I do think trying to use coronavirus as a scare tactic into Britain’s trading position in the world…this country has some of the highest standards in the world.

“No one is suggesting that is going to change. I do think the argument to be slightly disingenuous.”

The Aberavon MP insisted Britain’s departure from the UK will ultimately have British trade “take a hit” in the future and leave the doors open for allegedly questionable products.

Mr Kinnock said: “Darren, optimism is not a strategy. The argument I’m making is we will take a hit in our trade with Europe because there will be more friction.

JUST IN: Cringeworthy moment Irish PM NOT elected in own constituency count

“The Government’s policy is to fill the gap that will cause by striking trade deals with the likes of the United States and China.

“We’ve seen with the United States is all about chlorinated chicken, and health and safety standards in China are non-existing compared to EU standards. It’s simply the reality.”

But Mr Grimes cut off the Labour MP to point out any argument against chlorinated chicken – a food often brought up by the pro-Remain camp to highlight the potential changes of standards after Brexit – should be shelved as Brussels also dismissed concerns with the American product.

He continued: “The European Union itself says chlorinated chicken, American chicken, is perfectly safe.

READ MORE: Arch-Remainer set to lose out on top EU job after uproar in capitals

“To try and compare it to the Chinese virus is incredibly disingenuous.”

EU member states first came to an agreement on common food standards following a series of food incidents – including Mad Cow Disease in the UK across the 1980s and 1990s – across the continent.

New regulation setting general principles on the development of food and animal feed in the European Union was agreed in 2002 and a new independent agency, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), was also set up to provide scientific advice and support.

The UK has abided by EU food regulation as a member state and established the non-ministerial Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2000 to protect public health across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

EU regulation on food health and safety will no longer apply to the UK at the end of the transition period, paving the way for the UK to strike new deals on food with non-EU countries, but the Chief Executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, George Dunn, urged British consumers to choose British at the supermarket.

DON’T MISS

EU mafia: How crime bosses have abused the Brussels project [EXCLUSIVE]
Liam Fox reveals big ‘leverage’ UK can use against EU [INSIGHT]
Brexit mistake: German minister admits EU is wrong [INSIGHT]

Mr Dunn insisted British food standards are “better” than other countries outside the EU and explained why Britons should stick to home products when they are out shopping.

Speaking to Express.co.uk in December, he said: “I think there are a number of reasons. One is that it’s local so it doesn’t have to travel far over vast areas to get to our shops’ shelves.

“We know the provenance of that product because we can trace it back to UK farms and see the way they’ve been reared. Our systems are predominantly grass-based which means that they are providing great landscapes, great bio-diversity for our country.”

Mr Dunn added: “We know that the animal welfare standards to which we are working on are very high in this country and rightly so.

“And we’re not using prophylactic antibiotics for example in those animals, so the health status of these animals is also good.

“So I think there is a whole range of reasons why for example consuming domestic beef over international beef is better for the consumer.”

Source: Read Full Article