Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has confirmed hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken will not be allowed into the UK under any trade deal with the United States.
Ms Villiers told a BBC programme the EU ban on these imports would be carried over into UK legislation following Brexit.
She said the government would “hold the line” in trade negotiations with the US and would “defend our national interests and our values, including our high standards of animal welfare”.
“There are legal barriers to their import and those are going to stay in place,” she said.
Instead of using her platform at this week’s Oxford Farming Conference to clarify the government’s position, she made the pledge in an interview with Countryfile presenter Tom Heap in a programme which will be shown on January 26.
The government’s clear commitment was welcomed by NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick, but he also called for Westminster to deliver on a promise of a standards commission to ensure protection is in place.
“The need for it is even greater now that future trading agreements are going to take centre stage from the Withdrawal Agreement after January 31,” he said.
“We cannot be asked to produce to the highest of world standards then allow our markets and viability to be undermined by competition from places where these standards are disregarded or are illegal.
“That cannot be bargained away in any circumstances and a commission would provide the reassurance sought by the industry.”
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
