Brexit for independence from unelected Politicians? Really?

Totally agree Davidhs. And this is why Trump will insist that we drop those high standards, so he can import his dangerous, filthy to us- and worse- stop us making the choice by preventing labelling from telling us what we are buying.

The well off will be able to make the choice to buy direct - hopefully- but the huge majority won't, due to price. I do predict a massive rise in vegetarianism.

I just can't be asked (yes that is how I spell it) to check back pages and pages, but I distinctly remember some here on GN saying that leaving the EU will allow us to improve on standards. Perhaps others do too?

Jaberwok

You people do make me laugh about animal welfare! Have none of you heard about fur farms, in Europe and the appalling way mink and many other creatures with a beautiful pelt particularly silver Fox are farmed and killed? Fois Gras? Not very nice way to treat birds! Factory farmed chickens, veal calves in crates, the list is endless!Does the EU reprimand any of the offending countries! er NO! I don't actually think even in our worse nightmare our animal welfare laws would sink to the diabolical levels that are practiced in many European countries!

If you read my post correctly I was talking about our existing regulations.

This wretched government wants a de-regulation.

Jaberwok, that is correct, all EU countries have their own rules within the CAP system, some are very different to the UK. Overall we are right at the top on standards and regulation.

Biba70
I dont remember that statement and I was paying attention to the diatribe.

The fact is that British produce is regulated closely, with high environmental and welfare standards, everything is traceable and is audited. Traceable to the extent that every animal or field can be revisited and every event accounted for.
Yes, a field of cabbages has all the cultivation’s, planting, chemical treatments, fertilizer and harvest details recorded, the same for animals from birth to slaughter is accounted for. That is every farm in the UK, if the records are not there it is unsalable.

All this along with inspections is costly, it ensures that food is produced to the highest standard and is above most EU countries and vastly better than the US.

If the government want cheaper food, UK farmers can do it, give them equivalent standards to the US, GM crops, better chemicals, less welfare and environmental standards. Incidentally food prices are generally higher in the US despite lower commodity prices, so the processors and retailers are taking a bigger cut of the profit.

You people do make me laugh about animal welfare! Have none of you heard about fur farms, in Europe and the appalling way mink and many other creatures with a beautiful pelt particularly silver Fox are farmed and killed? Fois Gras? Not very nice way to treat birds! Factory farmed chickens, veal calves in crates, the list is endless!Does the EU reprimand any of the offending countries! er NO! I don't actually think even in our worse nightmare our animal welfare laws would sink to the diabolical levels that are practiced in many European countries!

Remember the days clearly, when Brexiters said that leaving the EU will allow us to improve on agriculture standards ! The EU never prevented the UK from having better standards than rest of EU, but only requested that our standards were 'as good as theirs'. Farcical.

varian

Today sees the Second Reading of the Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords, a bill that marks a new low in the national tragedy that is Brexit.As self-defeating legislation goes, this bill is a corker. By forcing it through Parliament, Boris Johnson and his advisers will:Signal to the world that they are content to break international law, undermining our country’s reputation for honesty and fair play precisely when we need new trade partners to trust usRide roughshod over the interests of the devolved administrations, fuelling the arguments of those who seek to break up the United Kingdom

In future I will vote for anyone who is prepared to ensure that our environmental, food and work standards are returned to the sort of standards we enjoy now.

In fact I would hope they could be improved on.

We should take pride in our welfare standards. Goodness knows there are many out there who will be willing to exploit animals for profit and see their lives made utterly wretched.

Today sees the Second Reading of the Internal Market Bill in the House of Lords, a bill that marks a new low in the national tragedy that is Brexit.As self-defeating legislation goes, this bill is a corker. By forcing it through Parliament, Boris Johnson and his advisers will:Signal to the world that they are content to break international law, undermining our country’s reputation for honesty and fair play precisely when we need new trade partners to trust usRide roughshod over the interests of the devolved administrations, fuelling the arguments of those who seek to break up the United Kingdom

Proposed regulations for the future farm payments system, negotiations are on going.
It looks like payments are going to be halved, but may be much worse, together with the prospect of cheap imports the outlook is particularly bleak for food production.

There will no doubt be some new food deals with “developing” countries like Brazil, have no doubt the majority will come from the US because they are the Global lowest cost producer,
US imports, much of it food aid, has put many farmers out of business in developing countries.

Signed and shared the petition varian, thanks

Do you remember what the Tories said before the Referendum

youtu.be/zzykce4oxII

Switzerland btw has very recently voted massively to continue with Free Movement of People- as they understand that it is part and parcel of the Treaty they have with the EU and is not negotiable. They are also part of Schengen.

Nannytopsy

I could cry. Why is he still there? What hold does he have over BJ?

It's really simple. Boris can't do the job. He is DCs puppet.

I'm not sure that will go down well with the NFU

twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1314148342348345345?s=20

The way I read this too- can't see how anyone can 'read' it otherwise.

Davidhs

The accusation of protectionism is rubbish, our existing welfare and environmental standards are higher than the EU, in addition the proposed future regulations are even higher than that.

There are several EU regulations applicable, GM foods and farm chemical restrictions, neonicotinoids etc. Tariffs on Beef and Sheep are straightforward protectionism

What are the proposed future regulations David?

As far as I understand it, the UK wants to lower standards in order to bring in cheap food from, for example, 'developing countries. Though I'm puzzled by this as imported foodstuffs from developing countries are tariff free in the EU because of EBA and must already conform to EU standards. The only way I can read this is that the UK will be prepared to buy the EU's rejects...

The accusation of protectionism is rubbish, our existing welfare and environmental standards are higher than the EU, in addition the proposed future regulations are even higher than that.

There are several EU regulations applicable, GM foods and farm chemical restrictions, neonicotinoids etc. Tariffs on Beef and Sheep are straightforward protectionism

The Times are reporting this AM that Dominic Cummings is instructing the Government to destroy British Farming. They also concede this stance risks a backbench rebellion and that two dozen Conservative MPs are prepared to defy the whip and vote for the Lords amendments next week.
We have to convince enough Conservative MPs rebel or abstain which is why it’s crucial farmers join us in their tractors tomorrow in Swindon and/or on Monday in London. (Links to Eventbrite on our website savebritishfarming.org
“In a letter to MPs, seen by The Times, Victoria Prentis, the environment minister, stated that the government would reject both amendments because they risked “adverse effects” on trade.
“The amendment requiring imports of food and agricultural goods to meet domestic standards would be much wider ranging than those we have in place today,” she wrote.
“Such conditions would make it very difficult to secure any new trade deals.”
The Times asks, “So why is Downing Street so intent on rejecting moves that would restrict imports of produce that do not meet existing UK standards in new trade deals?
The answer is partly principled and partly political.
The principled part is that senior figures, including the prime minister, believe that for too long some of the EU’s standards have been little more than protectionism.
They have long been critical of the precautionary approach to regulation. Besides, free trade Tories would argue, why should we stand in the way of cheaper food if it is safe?
The political element is down to the acknowledgment that often the hardest negotiation in a free trade deal is between the countries and their public.
What the two amendments would do is give further power to the farming and environment lobbies to reject undesirable bits of trade deals. That would make it harder to strike the deals.
Mr Johnson knows Brexit will be judged by the new trade deals and the last thing he wants to do is make that process harder.
Leading supermarkets and prominent chefs were already launching unhelpful interventions before the ink had dried on a single post-Brexit deal. Government is loath to endure such campaigns once each deal is finalised.
It may be brave to have the battle now — but more sensible than pushing it into the future.”
Save British Farming – Farm. Food. Life.

British agriculture cannot compete with US welfare or environmental standards, there will be a deal, probably for a limited quantity of a number of commodities.
That will be the thin end of the wedge and creep up over the years, most likely GM crops will be allowed in too and none will be allowed to be labeled with origin.

biba70 not all American meat/products are inferior.

Not all EU meat/products are superior.

IT IS INFERIOR - in 100s of ways- and there is no way British Agriculture can compete- even if it drops its standards drastically, on feeds, antibiotics, husbandry, and so much more.

I haven’t seen it all over the press biba70 I have read the Bloomberg article you linked to.

Still think there will be a deal. Not all American meat is inferior. I am sure that the thousands of visitors to the USA including many from UK do not become vegetarian on landing in the Country?

Minette Batters, president of the NFU, has described a no-deal brexit as "Armageddon"

That means, in reality GG13, that not only will we have no choice as to what we eat, unless rich- and British Agriculture is finished.

It is all over the Press GG13- here is just one article, there are so many

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-08/u-k-won-t-ban-import-of-food-produced-to-lower-farm-standards?sref=yMmXm5Iy