‘Alarm bells’ as TAC prevented from considering impact of agri-trade on health

“This is a gaping hole in the Government’s trade policy which could result in worsening diets, pesticide residues in food and further rises in lethal antimicrobial resistance.”

Lord Grimstone also tabled further amendments to the legislation which would allow Ministers to review and potentially shut down the commission within three years.

Baroness McIntosh, who served as a Defra Shadow Minister in the House of Commons before taking up a seat in the Lords, said: “We welcome the move the Government has made in making the Trade and Agriculture Commission statutory.

“But alarm bells are ringing about the possibility of a review and a possible termination of the role of the TAC even before the first three years are up.

Commitment

“It begs the whole question of the Government’s commitment to the TAC.”

Further Government amendments to the Bill will broaden the membership of the commission to include trade, plant and animal health, animal welfare and environmental experts.

But public health and consumer interests will still not be represented.

A separate amendment from Liberal Democrat Lord Purvis which would give Parliament a greater role in developing trade policy and scrutinising agreements was passed by 308 votes to 261.