UK farming trade advisory commission is to be given an extended remit

The remit of the Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC), which represents UK farmers, retailers and consumers, is being extended past its previous fixed term.

The government’s decision to give the commission a “more active role through a new legislative underpinning”, to be reviewed every three years, will give “farmers a stronger voice in UK trade policy”, the Department for International Trade (DIT) has stated. The TAC was originally launched for six months in July, and has been hearing from experts on farming, animal welfare, the environment and trade.

It will produce a report on the impact on animal welfare and agriculture of each free trade deal the government signs after the end of the EU transition period on January 1 2021, the DIT said.

This will be laid in Parliament before the start of the 21-day scrutiny period under the terms of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.

A TAC report on trade policies to guard against undermining animal welfare, food production and environmental standards is due to be published in February next year.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: “I will never sign up to anything that threatens their (farmers’) ability to compete, or that undermines their high standards.”

Environment Secretary George Eustice added: “By putting the Trade and Agriculture Commission on a statutory footing, we are ensuring that the voices of our farmers, as well as those of consumers and key environmental and animal welfare groups, continue to be heard while we are in the process of scrutinising future trade deals.”

The government tabled an amendment on Friday to the Agriculture Bill, due to come back to the Commons on Wednesday, to increase parliamentary scrutiny of free trade agreements.

The amendment will place a duty on the government to report to Parliament on “whether, or to what extent, commitments in new free trade agreements (FTAs) relating to agricultural goods are consistent with maintaining UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human, animal and plant life and health, animal welfare and environmental protection”, the DIT said.

The TAC will now be put on statutory footing in the Trade Bill.