Highland MSP warns of 'cheap, substandard' food imports
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North MSP Maree Todd has renewed her call for the UK government to remove the threat of lower food standards in any future trade deal – after a poll found that 83 per cent of Scots are against American-style hormone-fed chicken entering the British market.
The latest polling from YouGov also revealed that 80 per cent of Scots consumers are against US demands such as imports of chlorine-washed chicken, 81 per cent are against imports of vegetables grown with EU-banned pesticides and 90 per cent say the labels showing the origin of meat products should not be removed.
Ms Todd, an SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, claims local products are also "at risk from cheap, substandard imports" with the Conservatives refusing so far to ensure geographically limited produce will protected in a US trade deal.
“It’s absolutely clear that the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland do not want to see chlorine chicken, hormone-injected meat or vegetables riddled in pesticides on our supermarket shelves," she said.
“The threat to our food and drink industry here in the Highlands from a Tory/Trump trade deal is growing by the day as the US ramps up its demands to flood the UK market with lower-standard imports.
“Once again Scotland is an afterthought for the Tories, as the interests of Scottish farmers and producers are being sacrificed so Boris Johnson can pander to the demands of Donald Trump.
“Enough is enough – the UK Tory government needs to enshrine in law that Scotland’s world-class food and drink sector will be protected.”
