Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
6
Recommendation
First report - Australia FTA: Food and …
Accepted
We welcome the innovation of including an animal welfare chapter, in the UK- Australia trade deal but we believe that the Government should have pushed further on improving animal welfare standards. This was a missed opportunity for the UK and Australia, together, to show moral leadership in this area. Given …
Government response. The government states that the UK-Australia FTA does not compromise the UK’s high standards, highlights the non-regression and non-derogation clause on animal welfare, and mentions the joint working group to improve animal welfare standards.
7
Recommendation
First report - Australia FTA: Food and …
Accepted
The Trade and Agriculture Commission has concluded that there is likely to be an increase in the import of products from Australia produced at lower cost by using pesticides that would not be permitted in the UK. We call upon the UK Government to review its Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) …
Government response. The government states that existing regulations and import tolerances ensure that imported produce is safe for UK consumers and that the HSE employs monitoring and enforcement activities.
9
Conclusion
First report - Australia FTA: Food and …
Accepted
We welcome the commitment that the Minister made to ensuring that UK trade deals protect the natural environment through a non-regression obligation on relevant regulations and standards that is enforceable with sanctions for non-compliance. We call upon the UK Government to include such provisions in future FTAs to help ensure …
Government response. The government states that the UK-Australia FTA includes enforceable commitments to ensure neither country can derogate from environmental laws to promote trade and that it will seek similar commitments in future FTAs.
10
Recommendation
First report - Australia FTA: Food and …
Accepted
However, it is regrettable that these provisions are not enforceable through the dispute resolution process if changes are made at the state level. In future deals the Government should seek to ensure environmental provision are binding on all levels of government in the countries that the UK negotiates with—as is …
Government response. The government states that environment provisions apply across the UK, including the Devolved Administrations, and it will seek similar commitments and provisions in future FTAs.
14
Recommendation
First report - Australia FTA: Food and …
Accepted
As the Government has accepted, its Impact Assessment of the UK-Australia FTA is based on a relatively limited model of its likely consequences for farming and other sectors of the economy. We welcome the Government’s review of how to improve the quality of its impact assessment process and call on …
Government response. The Government accepts the recommendations of the Trade Modelling Review Expert Panel to improve the detail, rigour, and presentation of trade modelling and intends to implement them fully, leading to developments in sectoral detail, regional impacts, and adjustment pathways over …