Senior Tory MP Neil Parish, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, warned the UK dairy industry is unable to «properly label» its produce – which he regards as the «best in the world».
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom also faced calls to change food labels before Britain leaves the EU so shoppers are given extra information.
Speaking in the Commons, Labour’s former shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy told Mrs Leadsom: «The Prime Minister has recently said that with Brexit looming we’ll be able to choose our own methods of food labelling.
«But isn’t it the case there’s actually a lot more we could do on country of origin labelling, method of production labelling while we’re still in the European Union – we ought to emulate some of our European Union partners in doing so.»
Mrs Leadsom replied: «Country of origin labelling is already mandatory for unprocessed beef, pork, sheep, goat, poultry, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, fish, shellfish, wine and honey.
«There are lots of additional voluntary schemes which we’re very keen to support and, as you point out, as we leave the EU there’ll be further opportunities to look at what more consumers would like to see in labelling.»
Mr Parish then pushed the case for dairy, telling the cabinet minister: «The dairy industry has not really been able to properly label the great British cheese, butter, milk that’s the best in the world, I believe.
«Can we now take this opportunity to make sure we get the British flag and label on our dairy products?»
Mrs Leadsom replied: «You and I share an ambition to see the strongest possible promotion of great British food.
«You’ll be aware that the majority of dairy and processed meat products are compliant with the industry’s voluntary principles for origin labelling.
«But there is of course more we can always do and we’re working with industry to look at what those options are.»
Source: Express
Link: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/720821/Brexit-food-labelling-UK-flag-British-dairy-milk-cheese-butter-product