Brexit: British farmers fear falling standards

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British Farmer: No "Downward Competition"

Photo: DARREN STAPLES / REUTERS

British farmers have warned of falling food standards in the UK after the end of the Brexit transition period.

"We shouldn't sign commercial contracts that encourage downward competition," wrote an association of leading farmers in a letter to The Times newspaper.

"Importing low-quality agricultural products could mean the end of British farmers and put an additional burden on the environment."

Farmers fear that they will no longer be able to keep up with foreign imports in terms of price.

They are therefore calling for minimum standards for food to be laid down in trade agreements with other countries.

In the coming week, votes on an agricultural law are due in the London Parliament.

Negotiating trade agreements with several countries

Great Britain is currently not only negotiating the conditions for a mutual exchange of goods with the EU from the turn of the year.

Talks are also ongoing with Australia, the USA and other countries.

Farmers fear that if there are inadequate agreements with these countries, chlorinated chickens, for example, could be sold on the island.

The United Kingdom recently signed a trade agreement with Japan.

Great Britain left the EU at the end of January, but is still in a transition phase until the turn of the year, in which largely the same rules and standards apply as before.

From January onwards, however, there will be tariffs and other trade barriers without an agreement.

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bah / dpa